UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center will host French pianist Philippe LeJeune for a two-day residency at ArtPlay, the center’s home for arts education.
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Won over by the grand tradition of American jazz, LeJeune is well known for mixing swing, a sense of melody and soulful blues. His repertoire ranges from classic boogie-woogie piano to the tunes of Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Milt Jackson and George Gershwin. LeJeune has taught piano workshops in music schools and led seminars at jazz and blues festivals throughout France and the United States. He performs all over the world and has released six CDs in the United States, including a live recording at the Blue Moon in Houston. He also is artistic director for “Jazz Au Mercure,” a jazz concert series in Toulouse, France.
Preserve Jazz Festival will partner with the Alys Stephens Center to present the residency.
As an ArtPlay artist-in-residence, LeJeune will conduct two master classes Friday, April 13, 2012. The 5:30 p.m. class in ArtPlay, 1006 19th St. South, will be open to the public. Students will have the rare opportunity to explore boogie-woogie, blues and jazz piano at the hands of an internationally renowned artist. To register for the master class, call ArtPlay at 205-975-4769. During the residency LeJeune also will perform in the Alys Stephens Center’s new Parlor Music Series at ArtPlay, an ASC members’ event sponsored by IMS-Integrated Medical Systems International Inc. and Sterne Agee.