Biography Pierre de Bethmann

Born in 1965 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Pierre de Bethmann began classical piano lessons at age 6, only later discovering the world of jazz. He continued his musical and regular studies apace, graduated from ESCP in 1987 (major French graduate school of management), and studied one year at Berklee College of Music (Boston) in 1989.

He actually started working as a management consultant in 1990. Then he formed trio Prysm with Christophe Wallemme and Benjamin Henocq in 1994, and one year later he abandoned the desk to become a fulltime professional musician. From 1997 to 2001, Prysm performed over fifty concerts a year, including tours in the U.S., Japan and the Middle East, and recorded four albums on the Blue Note label.

He then founded the group ilium in 2001, based on the sound of the Fender Rhodes piano and totally original music. The band (a 5tet which turned into a 7tet) has toured extensively in various French venues, and has released three albums. After a six month residency at the Théâtre de l'Onde in Vélizy (near Paris), a new 7tet album will be out in fall 2009.

From 1998 on, he intensively worked as a sideman, presently with Moutin Reunion, David El Malek, Michael Felberbaum, Stéphane Huchard, Christophe Dal Sasso, Thomas Savy, Sonia Cat-Berro, Denis Guivarc'h ; also previously with Laïka, Pierrick Pedron, Olivier Ker Ourio or Jean-Christophe Béney... And occasionally played with Eddie Henderson, Dave Liebman, Aldo Romano, Philip Catherine, François Jeanneau, Patrice Caratini, Rick Margitza, Eric Le Lann, Stéphane Belmondo, Stéfano di Battista, Flavio Boltro, Rosario Giuliani, Sylvain Beuf, François Théberge, Julien Lourau, Norma Winstone, Sara Lazarus...

He recorded seven albums as a leader or co-leader (Prysm and Ilium)

Teaches at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, at Cefedem Bordeaux and at the Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood. Has also teached at the Conservatoire National de Montpellier (2003-07), and on the occasion of several French Festivals (Marciac, Capbreton, ...)

Victoire du Jazz 2008 - French instrumental album of the year

Django Reinhardt Prize 2004 - French musician of the year

1st prize at the Concours National de Jazz de La Défense in 1994

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