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Rockarchive Gallery Amsterdam


Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Place Vendome, la Tour Eiffel, Paris,

Jean-Pierre Leloir


French veteran photographer Jean-Pierre Leloir was one of the best, if not the best jazz photographer. His work appeared on thousands of record-sleeves, in hundreds of books, and is, untill this day, a guideline for many music-photographers.

"I loved the people I photographed, so I made myself as available, yet as discrete as possible," he said. "I never wanted to be a paparazzi. I wanted them to forget my presence so I could catch those little unexpected moments."

Leloir was decorated by the city of New Orleans for his jazz collection. Jean-Pierre was a friend of Herman Leonard. They met and cooperated in their respective countries. Jean-Pierre was made Chevalier de L'Ordre Des Arts et des Lettres and used the occasion to lecture the French minister of culture Frédéric Mitterrand about the rights of photographers in the digital age.

Born in Paris in 1931, Leloir was passionate about music from his early teens and started taking pictures as a 20-year-old. For publications like Jazz Magazine, L'Express and Le Nouvel Observateur, he photographed many of the jazz musicians who visited Paris or made the French capital their home in the 1950s and '60s, including Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Sydney Bechet, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus and Lester Young.

He also documented the golden age of chanson and the "yéyé" era and shot memorable studio and concert photographs of Edith Piaf, Johnny Hallyday, and Yves Montand, among many others. He seemed to have a special empathy with visiting blues, rock and soul musicians from the US and the UK and photographed the likes of Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and Frank Zappa (Leloir's striking black and white portrait of the guitarist in 1976 is included in the Best of Zappa compilation Strictly Commercial). He also covered the Isle of Wight festival in 1969 and the Orange rock festival, a landmark event in France, in 1975.

The mustachioed Leloir smoked a pipe and had the phlegmatic demeanour of a British gentleman. He knew how to put his subjects at ease in the more formal environment of a studio, playing Vivaldi in the background to help them relax. "His moustache is so fascinating that you end up staring at it and forgetting all about the camera," Belgian singer Jacques Brel said of the photographer, who became a lifelong friend and took most of the pictures that adorned the covers of his records. The many books of Leloir's work include Brel Par Leloir (2008), Johnny Sixties, a collection of his Hallyday photos (2009), Instants De Grâce, Portraits de Jazz and Ella.

In the mid-1990s, Leloir lost the use of his right eye, which restricted his opportunities.  Leloir mused about a life that had been full of such coincidences.

Jean-Pierre Leloir, photographer: born Paris 27 June 1931;  died Paris 20 December 2010.

 

  • Selected Artworks
  • CV
Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, The Rolling Stones, Paris , 1970

THE ROLLING STONES, PARIS

Silver Gelatin Print
40 X 50 cm

View

THE ROLLING STONES, PARIS

Silver Gelatin Print

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Theoloneous Monk, Olympia, Paris 1961,

THEOLONEOUS MONK, OLYMPIA, PARIS 1961

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

THEOLONEOUS MONK, OLYMPIA, PARIS 1961

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Jimi Hendrix, Olympia 1967,

JIMI HENDRIX, OLYMPIA 1967

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

JIMI HENDRIX, OLYMPIA 1967

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, Bob Marley, Jamaica 1979,

BOB MARLEY, JAMAICA 1979

Fine art digital print
40 X 50 cm

View

BOB MARLEY, JAMAICA 1979

Fine art digital print

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Herbie Hancock, Antibes, 1963

HERBIE HANCOCK, ANTIBES

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

HERBIE HANCOCK, ANTIBES

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Quincy Jones & Sarah Vaughan, 1958

QUINCY JONES & SARAH VAUGHAN

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

QUINCY JONES & SARAH VAUGHAN

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, Bob Marley, Jamaica,

BOB MARLEY, JAMAICA

Fine art digital print
50 X 40 cm

View

BOB MARLEY, JAMAICA

Fine art digital print

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, estate stamp, certificate, Jimi Hendrix, Isle of Wight, 1968

JIMI HENDRIX, ISLE OF WIGHT

fine art digital print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

JIMI HENDRIX, ISLE OF WIGHT

fine art digital print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Bob Dylan, Paris, 1966

BOB DYLAN, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

BOB DYLAN, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, estate stamp, certificate, Bob Dylan, Paris, 1966

BOB DYLAN, PARIS

fine art digital print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

BOB DYLAN, PARIS

fine art digital print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Bob Dylan with Francoise Hardy, Paris, 1966

BOB DYLAN WITH FRANCOISE HARDY, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

BOB DYLAN WITH FRANCOISE HARDY, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Ella Fitgerald, 1956

ELLA FITGERALD

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

ELLA FITGERALD

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Miles Davis, Antibes, 1969

MILES DAVIS, ANTIBES

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

MILES DAVIS, ANTIBES

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Lee Morgan, Champs Elysees, Paris 1959,

LEE MORGAN, CHAMPS ELYSEES, PARIS 1959

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

LEE MORGAN, CHAMPS ELYSEES, PARIS 1959

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Nina Simone, Antibes 1969,

NINA SIMONE, ANTIBES 1969

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

NINA SIMONE, ANTIBES 1969

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Jimi Hendrix, Paris 1966,

JIMI HENDRIX, PARIS 1966

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

JIMI HENDRIX, PARIS 1966

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate, Jimi Hendrix, Paris 1967,

JIMI HENDRIX, PARIS 1967

Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

JIMI HENDRIX, PARIS 1967

Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate, Pink Floyd, Paris, 1974,

PINK FLOYD, PARIS, 1974

Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

PINK FLOYD, PARIS, 1974

Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Lou Reed, Paris 1975,

LOU REED, PARIS 1975

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

LOU REED, PARIS 1975

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate, Lou Reed, 1974

LOU REED

Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

LOU REED

Fine art digital print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Miles Davis, Salle Pleyel, Paris, 1956

MILES DAVIS, SALLE PLEYEL, PARIS

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

MILES DAVIS, SALLE PLEYEL, PARIS

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Miles Davis, Kenny Clarke, 1956

MILES DAVIS, KENNY CLARKE

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

MILES DAVIS, KENNY CLARKE

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, Billie Holiday, Paris 1958, 1958

BILLIE HOLIDAY, PARIS 1958

Silver Gelatin Print
50 X 40 cm

View

BILLIE HOLIDAY, PARIS 1958

Silver Gelatin Print

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, Frank Zappa  Berlin, 1968,

FRANK ZAPPA BERLIN, 1968

Silver Gelatin Print
50 X 40 cm

View

FRANK ZAPPA BERLIN, 1968

Silver Gelatin Print

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, open edition, stamped, comes with certificate, Billie Holiday, Club Mars Paris, 1958, 1958

BILLIE HOLIDAY, CLUB MARS PARIS, 1958

Silver Gelatin Print, open edition, stamped, comes with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

BILLIE HOLIDAY, CLUB MARS PARIS, 1958

Silver Gelatin Print, open edition, stamped, comes with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Billie Holiday, Salle Pleyel, Paris, 1954,

BILLIE HOLIDAY, SALLE PLEYEL, PARIS, 1954

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

BILLIE HOLIDAY, SALLE PLEYEL, PARIS, 1954

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Miles Davis, Salle Pleyel, Paris 1956,

MILES DAVIS, SALLE PLEYEL, PARIS 1956

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

MILES DAVIS, SALLE PLEYEL, PARIS 1956

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate, Miles Davis, Olympia Theatre, Paris,1957,

MILES DAVIS, OLYMPIA THEATRE, PARIS,1957

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

MILES DAVIS, OLYMPIA THEATRE, PARIS,1957

Silver Gelatin Print, estate stamp, with certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Bouquiniste on the Seine, Paris, 1951

BOUQUINISTE ON THE SEINE, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

View

BOUQUINISTE ON THE SEINE, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, La Seine, fishermen, Paris, 1955

LA SEINE, FISHERMEN, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
40 X 50 cm

View

LA SEINE, FISHERMEN, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

40 X 50 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Reflection of the Notre Dame, Paris, 1951

REFLECTION OF THE NOTRE DAME, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

REFLECTION OF THE NOTRE DAME, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Les Halles, Paris, 1957

LES HALLES, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

LES HALLES, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, 14 Juillet, Mouy, Paris, 1958, 1958

14 JUILLET, MOUY, PARIS, 1958

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

14 JUILLET, MOUY, PARIS, 1958

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Place de la Victoire, 1952

PLACE DE LA VICTOIRE

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate
50 X 40 cm

View

PLACE DE LA VICTOIRE

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

50 X 40 cm

Jean-Pierre Leloir, Silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate, Place Vendome, la Tour Eiffel, Paris,

PLACE VENDOME, LA TOUR EIFFEL, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate

View

PLACE VENDOME, LA TOUR EIFFEL, PARIS

silver gelatine print, estate stamp, certificate


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