The Pierre Hurel Trio

Hailed by The Boston Globe’s Steve Greenlee as “Boston’s most sensitive working group”, The Pierre Hurel Trio returns to the Regattabar after five years to share their signature sound and new original music.

Born in Paris, pianist and composer Pierre Hurel was first discovered by Paris Jazz Conservatory’s founder and director Charles Henry. At age 20, as he was about to reluctantly pursue a career in business, Hurel decided to change course and enrolled at the School of Modern Music in Paris. Six months later, he came to Boston for a summer session at the Berklee College of Music and has remained here ever since.

Jazz journalist Virginia Schaefer wrote in AllAboutJazz.com: ”Hurel’s compositions and playing show the influence of European classical music, particularly of the romantic and impressionistic eras. In his playing, Hurel projects a natural grace, easygoing on the surface but precise and focused at the core.” Hurel was described by the Boston Globe’s David Wildman as “The extraordinary-local-but-Paris-born pianist.” In 2003, the trio was included in The Boston Globe’s short list of the 10 Best Shows of the year alongside Norah Jones and Dave Brubeck. Reviewing one of his performances, Steve Greenlee wrote in the Boston Globe “Hurel is one of Boston’s real gems. His style is impressionistic and adventurous, coming off somewhere between Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett … The Pierre Hurel Trio is Boston’s most sensitive working group.”

Hurel’s music has been featured numerous times on New England Cable News, WGBH, WERS, WBUR, WMBR, Paris Jazz, Europe 1, and France Inter, among others. He has recorded eight albums. Hurel is a regular at the Regattabar, and has appeared at Jazz festivals including the Nice and Toulon Jazz Festivals in France, and venues including the Duc des Lombards in Paris, the Knickerbocker in New York and locally at Sculler’s and Ryles Jazz clubs, among others.

Hurel is also a Professor at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he teaches Jazz to classical pianists as well as a unique non-idiomatic improvisation workshop that helps students find their own voice and improvise with others. During the pandemic, Hurel reconnected with his passion for painting, and has since dedicated a great deal of time and energy to developing his artistry. His artwork can be viewed at www.PierreHurelArt.com