Jean-Pierre Gebler

A close friend of Chet baker, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell and Gerry Mulligan since the late ’50s, Jean-Pierre Gebler developed a warm, soft tone on the baritone sax, and a deep knowledge and love for the West Coast, Bop, Cool Jazz, and Post Bop repertoire.

Jean-Pierre Gebler made his first acquaintance with the saxophone at age 14. A year later, he became Jack Sels’ student.

In 1956/57 he won, twice, first prize of the BELGIAN HOT CLUB competition.

Very much impressed by Gerry Mulligan and Lars Gullin, he decided to tackle the baritone sax.

In 1958 he joined the band of Jacques Pelzer and Benoît Quersin, with whom he appeared on the historical LP “JAZZ IN LITTLE BELGIUM” with Milou Struvay (tp), Joel Van Drogenbroek (piano) and Vivi Mardens (drs).
During that period he also recorded the soundtrack of a Belgian movie (Venice Prize) by Luc De Heusch, and met his friend and accomplice Marc Danval, who starred in the movie.

In late 1958, Gebler moved to Paris, where he plays a.o. with Chet Baker, Barney Wilen, René Urtreger, Allen Eager.

In 1959 he decided to settle down in Portugal and with local musicians founded the first Portuguese jazz orchestra, performing on a regular basis, in quartet, at the Hot-Club of Portugal.

In 1960 he toured Spain, with Chuck Israels, Tete Montoliu, Arnie Wise, Jon Mayer and Perry Robinson.

In 1962, he participated, with Milou Struvay, in the creation of the soundtrack of the first movie of the Portuguese new wave, “O Balarmino”, by Fernando LOPES.

In 1963, leading the Hot-club of Portugal quartet, he appeared at the festival of Comblain-la-Tour (Belgium). Returning to Portugal, he performed with Gerry Mulligan, Dexter Gordon and Pony Poindexter.

In 1967 he moved back to Belgium, and, for economical reasons, decided to drop his musical activities.

He picked up his saxophone again in 1982 and appeared with Jacques Pelzer and Jacques Pirotton at the Cascais Jazz Festival (Portugal).

In 1984 he recorded, with Jacques Pelzer, Al and Stella Levitt, Michel Herr, Richard Rousselet, and Freddie Deronde the album “JEAN-PIERRE GEBLER AND FRIENDS”.

In 1985 he was again at the Cascais Festival with Jon Eardley.

In 1986 he founded a quintet with Michael Blass, Jacques Pirotton, Philippe Aerts, Jan De Haas, and Jeanfrançois Prins as a guest, with which he recorded, in
1988, “J.P. GEBLER QUINTET” .

Another CD in 1993: “BALLADES… OU PRESQUE”, this time with Michel Herr Philippe Aerts, Jacques Pirotton.

He released a last album in 2001: Jean-Pierre Gebler Belgian All Stars “MEGGIE” (Gam 917), arranged for nonet by Michel Herr who also played on it, with Steve Houben, Gino Lattuca, Fabrice Alleman, Phil Abraham, Jacques Pirotton, Sal La Rocca and Bruno Castellucci. The band appeared at the Estoril Jazz Festival (Cascais, Portugal).

Jean-Pierre Gebler passed away on Dec. 27, 2006, from a heart failure, at the age of 68.