PIERRE DE BETHMANN QUARTET

#ArtoftheQuartet

The quartet as a complete ideal, driven by a distinctive musical style and a resolutely collective approach—two core concepts now presented anew to a post-pandemic world, with all its uncertainties and violence, and yet, perhaps, its promises as well.

The story began during the very first moments of regained freedom following the first lockdown, when Pierre de Bethmann and Antoine Paganotti rediscovered each other as neighbors through numerous duo sessions. It continued with a sense of inevitability by bringing in David El Malek and, later, Thomas Bramerie, who over the years have established themselves as major figures on the European scene.

With the group thus formed, Aléa first proposed a reissue of the album GO, originally released in 2012 on the Plus Loin label, as a prelude to a project once again centered on compositional work tailored for a small ensemble. And this same momentum led the four musicians to Ferber Studio in February 2023, for a new phase experienced as a moment of grace: two days of recording yielding two albums.

An entirely new repertoire, then, made up of forms that are more or less expected, melodic lines that are more or less tamable, harmonies and rhythms that are more or less complex… to play, again and again. A simple credo of four artists united by a love for a culture now a century old as much as by a faith in a possible future, together above all else.

Perhaps also to poke a little fun at our postmodern exhaustion, and to keep believing in music meant to be shared—music that celebrates the mystery of existence all the more effectively because it also knows how to heal some of its wounds.

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Spring 2023: reissue of the album GO, originally released in 2012 on Nocturne / Plus Loin
January 2024: release of CREDO
January 2025: release of AGAPÉ

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Pierre de Bethmann was born in 1965 in Boulogne-Billancourt. He co-led the Prysm trio (four albums for Blue Note), led the ilium and Medium Ensemble projects (seven albums released on Aléa), currently leads a new quartet focused on original compositions, a trio focused on standards (five volumes in the form of “Essays” for Aléa), and co-leads the PianoForte project.

He has won four Victoires du Jazz (twice as a winner with PianoForte in 2025, Instrumental Artist of the Year in 2024, and Album of the Year in 2008 for “Oui”), the Grand Prix Jazz from the Académie Charles Cros (for “Exo,” Medium Ensemble Volume 2 in 2016), the Django Reinhardt Prize from the Académie du Jazz (French Musician of the Year in 2004), the Django d’Or (Prysm, Group of the Year in 1998), and first prize at the Concours de La Défense (in 1994).

He has been teaching at the CNSMDP (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris) since 2008 and has been a Steinway Artist since 2023.

Upcoming gigs

Videos

P2B Quartet // "Rien" en session TSFJAZZ

P2B Quartet // Agapé

P2B 4tet // Agapé Teaser

P2B4 // En Plus / Victoires du Jazz 2024

P2B 4tet /// Éternel Détour

P2B 4tet /// Greens

P2B 4tet /// Credo Teaser

P2B 4tet /// Credo Pre-Teaser

P2B 4tet /// Go (teaser)

P2B 4tet /// PFH

Previous gigs