The French pianist Philippe LeJeune is a perfect example of the mixture of jazz and blues which was an especially important strain in the jazz tradition. The young pianist attended a 1968 concert by master boogie-woogie and blues pianist Memphis Slim, and immediately put an end to his classical efforts and began teaching himself the blues, scouring local record shops for recordings by boogie-woogie greats. In 1980 he cut an album titled Dialog in Boogie as a piano duo with Memphis Slim who had been a Parisian citizen since 1962.

LeJeunes powerful, accurate left hand and graceful melodic interpretation on the right hand create the sort of power of a syncopated freight train. His repertoire ranges from classic barrelhouse boogie woogie piano to Duke Ellington and Horace Silver tunes as well those of Milt Jackson and George Gershwin.

Philippe LeJeune has released five CDs in the United States, one among them was live recorded at the Blue Moon in Houston, Texas. He also makes numerous appearances in various American jazz festivals, performing three times at the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival in Toledo and also in major blues festivals such as the Monterey Bay Blues Festival and twice at the Cincinnati Queen City Blues Festival, which is a rare privilege for a European musician.

As an education and clinician he has taught piano workshops in music schools, and has lead seminars at jazz and blues festivals throughout France. He is also the artistic director for the Aurillac Swing Boogie Festival (August 4, 5, 6, 2005).

Philippe LeJeune has found a role not only as an interpreter of contemporary numbers, but as traditionalist bringing back to todays audiences important music from a variety of older sources and melting it all together into a highly personal style and repertoire. The Frenchmans natural instinct for blues, jazz and boogie is food for the soul.