Esplanade Claude-Luter

Esplanade Claude-Luter honors the life and career of a musician who became a central figure in the postwar Parisian jazz scene. Claude Luter was a clarinetist and bandleader who rose to prominence during the nineteen forties, performing in the legendary underground cellars of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. He is perhaps most famous for his long-standing partnership with the American jazz giant Sidney Bechet, whose move to Paris transformed the local music culture. Luter not only championed traditional New Orleans jazz throughout France but also helped bridge the musical divide between the United States and Europe by frequently performing alongside visiting American legends.