Bernard Peiffer


Bernard Peiffer (pie-fer) (October 23, 1922 – September 7, 1976) was a French jazz pianist, composer, and teacher. His nickname was "Le Most", for his piano skills.
Born in Épinal, France, Peiffer was raised in a musical family, with his father and uncle playing the violin and the organ, respectively. Starting piano at age nine, he studied under Pierre Maire, a student of Nadia Boulanger, and quickly demonstrated his brilliance by being able to play back long sections of classical music by ear.
After winning the 1st Prize in Piano at the Paris Conservatory, Peiffer began his professional career at the age of twenty, playing with Andre Ekyan and Django Reinhardt.
During World War II, he joined the French resistance after he witnessed the execution of a friend by the Gestapo in the streets of Paris. Soon afterward he was captured, and was incarcerated for over a year.

In the early 1950s he began a successful career, playing with Django, leading his own quintet, composing film soundtracks, and essentially achieving celebrity status among the clubs of Paris, Monte Carlo and Nice, and eventually becoming nationally renowned. He released recordings on the EmArcy, Decca and Laurie Records labels.
He moved to Philadelphia in 1954 with his wife Corine and daughter Rebecca. The subsequent loss of his third daughter (his first was from a previous marriage with singer Monique Dozo) profoundly affected him, resulting in the beautiful "Poem for a Lonely Child". The year 1962 saw the birth of his first son (and final child), Stephen.
During his first years in America he achieved considerable success, performing at Carnegie Hall, Birdland, and the Newport Jazz Festival. During this time, critic Leonard Feather compared his playing to that of Art Tatum. He released his last commercial album in 1965 and, after having kidney surgery a few years later, restricted himself to performing and teaching, mainly in Philadelphia. His students included Uri Caine, Sumi Tonooka, Tom Lawton, and Don Glanden.
His last major appearance was at the 1974 New York/Newport Festival at Carnegie Hall. He died on September 7, 1976, aged 53. M/h3>

All of the song on my website are available as midi files, .pdf files, sheet music, recorded on tape or CD.

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Here are samples of this fine Jazz Artists' work.

midi Ballade In Paris

midi Champs Elysees Boogie

midi Strip Tease

midi Tired Blues


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