Clément Doucet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Léon Clément Doucet (born 9 April 1895 in Brussels, died 15 October 1950 in Brussels) was a Belgian pianist.

Doucet was trained as a classical pianist, but went to the USA around 1920 and by his return in 1923 had developed considerable talent as a jazz pianist. His left-hand technique in particular is clearly influenced by the stride piano style prevalent in New York in the early 1920s.

Shortly after returning to Europe he formed a piano-duet partnership with Jean Wiéner which lasted on and off from 1924 until 1939. Together they performed in over 2000 concerts and made over 100 recordings of hot dance, jazz, blues and classical music, as well as a small number of sides in which they accompanied leading French chansonniers of the day. These include ten sides by the duet with Maurice Chevalier, and others, solo, with Édith Piaf and Yvonne George (Wiéner) and Jean Sablon and Germaine Sablon (Doucet).

After the war Wiéner went on to a notable career as a pianist, composer of film music and broadcaster; Doucet never recorded again and died, probably of drink, in 1950.

• Léon Clément Doucet was listed in the International Music Score Library Project