Jean-Pierre Leloir (1931-2010) was one of the best French photographers who covered the musical scene of his country from 1950 to 1970. A great jazz enthusiast, he captured portraits of the greatest musicians during their visits to France and neighboring countries, including Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson.
The work and talent of Jean-Pierre Leloir leave us with unforgettable images of artists on stage, in the intimacy of their dressing rooms or hotel rooms, up to their arrival or departure from Orly airport. The photographs chosen for this unique collection, created as a tribute to both Jean-Pierre Leloir and the artists to whom he dedicated his work, come from thousands of images preserved in Leloir's archives. A large part of these photographs has never been published in the past. This catalog presents the first 30 vinyl albums of a collection that will contain 50 LPs, illustrating the major works of jazz through the inimitable images of the great French photographer.