Francy Boland

Belgian pianist and composer Francy Boland teamed with American drummer Kenny Clarke to lead the Clarke-boland Big Band, widely cited as the finest all-star ensemble of its kind ever assembled outside the U.S. Born November 6, 1929, in Namur, Belgium, François Boland began playing piano at age eight, later studying at the Music Conservatory. He first earned notice after joining the Bob Shots in 1949, playing alongside a who's who of Belgian jazz greats including tenorist Bobby Jaspar, vibraphonist Fats Sadi, and guitarist René Thomas. Boland recorded six LPs with the Bob Shots, all of them in Paris.



When the group dissolved, he and several bandmates remained in France, and in 1954 he signed on as the pianist and arranger behind trumpeter Aimé Barelli. In 1956 Boland joined trumpeter Chet Baker's quintet, and when Baker returned to the U.S. he took the pianist with him. Boland remained overseas for two years, during that time writing for Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Mary Lou Williams. Upon returning to Europe, he settled in Germany, joining Kurt Edelhagen's orchestra as well as playing with The West Deutsche Radio Big Band.

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