Jean-Michel Defaye

Jean-Michel Defaye (18 September 1932 – 1 January 2025) was a French pianist, composer, arranger and conductor known for his collaboration with French poet and singer-songwriter Léo Ferré.

Life and career Defaye was born in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, near Paris, on 18 September 1932. In 1952 he won second prize of the Grand Prix de Rome; Suite Marine Morceau de Concours I (SG 1–2) Morceau de Concours II (SG 3–4) Morceau de Concours III (SG 5) Deux Danses, for trombone and piano (1954) Quatre pièces, for trombone quartet (1954) Sonatine for trumpet and piano (1956) 1960: 1961: Les Chansons d'Aragon 1961: (live) 1962: 1964: 1964: Verlaine et Rimbaud 1966: 1967: 1967: Léo Ferré chante Baudelaire 1969: L'Été 68 1969: Les Douze Premières Chansons de Léo Ferré 1970: Amour Anarchie 1972: 2003: (recorded in 1961)