Biography

Bio in French : 

Philippe El Hage est un pianiste et compositeur libanais dont le style singulier mêle lyrisme méditerranéen, élégance classique et liberté du jazz contemporain. Il poursuit ses études de piano au Conservatoire National de Boulogne-Billancourt, avant d’intégrer pendant trois ans le Conservatoire National de Rueil-Malmaison dans la classe de Chantale Riou, où il obtient un Premier Prix / Médaille d’Or en piano. Il complète sa formation en jazz au Conservatoire d’Ivry-sur-Seine et au Conservatoire Gabriel Fauré (Paris) auprès de François Popineau.

Philippe développe très tôt un langage personnel : une musique profondément narrative et presque cinématographique, où chaque pièce s’impose comme un tableau émotionnel. Son style, raffiné mais accessible, touche aussi bien le public du jazz que celui des musiques contemporaines et méditerranéennes. Sa recherche s’appuie sur une fusion subtile des rythmes du Levant, de l’harmonie occidentale et de l’improvisation libre, donnant naissance à une identité hybride et expressive.

Cette singularité nourrit de nombreuses collaborations, notamment avec le percussionniste Youssef Hbeisch, avec qui il forme un duo reconnu pour la richesse de ses couleurs et la précision de son dialogue rythmique. Installé entre le Liban, la France et les Émirats arabes unis, Philippe se produit en solo, en duo et en trio sur différentes scènes internationales.

Bio in English : 

Philippe El Hage is a Lebanese pianist and composer whose distinctive style blends Mediterranean lyricism, classical elegance, and the freedom of contemporary jazz. He pursued piano studies at the Conservatoire National de Boulogne-Billancourt, then advanced for three years at the Conservatoire National de Rueil-Malmaison under Chantale Riou, graduating with a First Prize / Gold Medal in Piano. He later studied jazz piano and improvisation with François Popineau at the Ivry-sur-Seine Conservatory and the Gabriel Fauré Conservatory in Paris.

Early on, Philippe developed a personal musical language: a deeply narrative, almost cinematic approach in which each composition unfolds like an emotional tableau. His refined yet accessible style resonates with audiences across jazz, contemporary music, and Mediterranean soundscapes. His work is rooted in a subtle fusion of Levantine rhythms, Western harmony, and free improvisation, shaping an expressive and hybrid musical identity.

This singular voice fuels numerous collaborations, notably with percussionist Youssef Hbeisch, with whom he forms a duo acclaimed for its rich colors and precise rhythmic dialogue. Based between Lebanon, France, and the United Arab Emirates, Philippe performs internationally in solo, duo, and trio formats

Philippe’s music is a unique fusion of classical harmony, jazz improvisation, and Oriental influences.

1. Byblos (2007) – debut album recorded in France; launched his international career.
    
2. Sunday Afternoon (2008) – live recording in Beirut.
    
3. Flying with Elephants (2011) – released by Swiss jazz label Altrisuoni, featuring musicians from France, Syria, Lebanon, and Switzerland.
    
4. Asrar (2013) – duo with percussionist Youssef Hbeisch, recorded in Lausanne. Deeply inspired by Oriental heritage.
    
5. Sound of Hope (2021) – trio with Hbeisch (percussion) and Damien Hennicker (saxophone), recorded in Paris.
    
6. A Confused World (2024) – duo album with Hbeisch, recorded at MEI Studio (Dubai), released under the MEI Label.
    

In addition, he has composed solo piano works and original pieces performed across Europe and the Middle East.

• Performed in France, Switzerland, Lebanon, Syria, UAE, and beyond, both as a solo pianist and in ensembles.
   
• Tours & Festivals:
   
  • Post-Byblos release, toured with his jazz quartet.
     
  • Appeared at festivals in Europe and the Arab world, with programs blending East and West.
     
• Collaborations: Worked with musicians across genres (percussionists, saxophonists, jazz ensembles, classical projects).
   
• Known for piano & percussion duos with Youssef Hbeisch, which became a signature live format.
   
• Performed both in intimate concert halls and larger festivals, often presenting his original compositions rather than covers (Jazz festival Troyes / Sunside Jazz Club - Paris / Geneva Concert Hall / Aracaju-Brazil National Theatre / Beirut Jazz Festival )
   

• Television: Hosted Piano Plays (2012), the first educational music TV program in the Middle East (MTV Lebanon).
   
• Music Education:
   
  • 2012–2014: General Manager, Yamaha Music Department (Dubai), overseeing music schools across the Gulf.
     
  • 2014–present: Managing Director of the Musical Expression Institute (MEI) in Dubai, a music school and recording studio.