Born in Saint-Quentin (France) 1956

Trained at a very high level in the classical domaine (First Prize for Violin from the Conservatoire of Saint-Quentin in 1971, First Prize from the International Music University of Paris), Pierre Blanchard was quickly tempted by the adventure of improvisation and the Blue Notes in the mid 1970's. During this time he began to play "sideman" with his elders such as The Swing String System of Didier Levallet, who was recently Director of the French National Jazz Orchestra, the Jacques Thollot Quintet, and for five years with the Big Band of Martial Solal.

In 1984 he received from Stephane Grappelli "The Violin of Michel Varlop", a prize whose goal is to present to the public the most talented artists from the french school of the jazz violin. In 1985, Pierre Blanchard was responsible for a mission in New York for the Ministery of Exterior Relations to develope his work for string ensembles.

Composer and soloist who can be lyrical as well as unpredictable, Pierre Blanchard has deliberately chosen an open approach to music. Traditionally oriented toward the rigors of the writing and inventiveness,Blanchard's compositions are above all a natural expression of the seduction for the Voyage.

The result was an original musical language that laced jazz with the richness of classical harmony and the resonance of a string quartet. Blanchard's CD "Music for String Quartet, Jazz trio, Violin and Lee Konitz" recorded in 1987 is marked "Choc" du Monde de la Musique.