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Master Class with International Jazz Pianist Paul Lay

Technique, Creativity, and Insight from a Global Artist

Whether you’re a student, emerging, or devoted jazz enthusiast, this master class offers a rare opportunity to learn from a world-class artist and gain insight into the craft behind the music.

DC Public Library welcomes internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Paul Lay for an exclusive master class at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Experience the artistry, technique, and improvisational mastery that have made Lay one of today’s most celebrated voices in contemporary jazz.

This hands-on session will explore:

• Improvisation techniques and creative expression (15-30 minutes)
• Jazz harmony and composition
• Performance insights from an award-winning pianist

Whether you’re a student, emerging musician, or devoted jazz enthusiast, this master class offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from a world-class artist and gain insight into the craft behind the music. This program is in partnership with Villa Albertine/Embassy of France.

Free and open to all—spaces are limited, arrive early!

About the Artist

Unanimously known as "one of the greatest jazz pianists of his generation" (Le Monde), Paul Lay received the most prestigious awards such as Grand prix de l’Académie Charles Cros in 2014 for his album « Mikado », for which he composed all the tracks and which established him on the international stage as a creator. "Instrumental artist" at the Victoires du Jazz in 2020, Paul Lay has won awards at the most prestigious competitions: Soloist Award at the Concours de la Défense, Moscow Piano-Jazz Competition, Martial Solal Competition and Django Reinhardt Award

After studying at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, Paul Lay releases his first recording in 2010, Unveiling (with Simon Tailleu and Elie Duris) which is highly acclaimed by the critics.

He has won numerous prizes both in national and international competitions : soloist prize at the National Jazz Competition of La Defense, International Piano Jazz Competition of Moscow, Martial Solal International Piano Jazz Competition, Montreux International Piano Jazz Competition, Charles Cros Academy Prize for his second cd release Mikado and Django Reinhardt Prize by the French Jazz Academy.

Paul regularly collaborates with new people to create new and original formats. In 2015 he premieres «Billie Holiday, passionément », a video and musical performance with video maker Olivier Garouste. This performance is given in numerous venues around the globe including Paris Philharmonie, La Roque d’Anthéron Festival and French May Festival in Hong Kong among others.

Paul becomes a sought-after sideman and performs with Riccardo Del Fra, Géraldine Laurent, Eric le Lann and Ping Machine.

In 2017 his double album The Party is released (with Dre Pallemaerts and Clemens Van der Feen) as well as Alcazar Memories (with Isabel Sörling and Simon Tailleu). These very original trios enabled them to perform around the world and give more than 70 concerts.

At the end of 2018, Paul releases « Thanks a Million », a duo with Eric le Lann in a stirring tribute to Louis Armstrong. It is largely acclaimed by the press and the audience.

Regularly invited abroad, Paul Lay performs in New York, Toronto, Berlin, Warsaw. He regularly tours Germany, Russia, Peru, Mexico, Dominican Republic, China and Japan.

Paul also benefits from many sponsorship programs that make him an official representative of French jazz. He performed with Barbara Hendricks at the UNESCO International Jazz Day, during the Marseille European Capital of Culture events in 2013, for The Bridge 2017 with the Mission for the 100th anniversary of WWI. Paul also receives support of the Centre Culturel de Rencontres les Dominicains de Haute-Alsace, where he has regularly been invited as artist in residence since 2015.

His talents as a composer enable him to carry out various projects in his own name, not only as a soloist, but also as a duo, trio, with choir or symphony orchestra. Lately, composition commissions have increased significantly. In 2024, Paul creates two programs based on original scores: “Waves of light” for jazz trio and chamber choir, and “Rhapsody in Blue extended” for jazz trio and orchestra, world-premiered at Jazzdor festival, with Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and Wayne Marshall. In spring 2025, Paul will premiere a new work, “Un français à New York”, with Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire. Paul composes the soundtrack to Mark Gill's highly anticipated biopic Ravens, awarded at the Austin Film Festival in Texas. His rich discography - 9 albums in 10 years - is acclaimed by the press. His first solo recording, “Full Solo” (2021), a tribute to Beethoven, reached the top of Fnac sales charts as soon as it was released. His latest album, “L' Odyssée” (2024), on which he signs every track, is enthusiastically received by the critics.

In September 2022, Paul Lay is appointed professor of jazz piano at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris.

Since 2018, BNP Paribas Foundation has been supporting him for his career development. He also receives the support from SPEDIDAM, the Centre National de la Musique (CNM) and ADAMI.

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