- In 1959 he decided to settle down in Portugal and with local musicians founded the first Portuguese jazz orchestra, performing on a regular basis, in quartet, at the Hot-Club of Portugal.
- He picked up his saxophone again in 1982 and appeared with Jacques Pelzer and Jacques Pirotton at the Cascais Jazz Festival (Portugal).
- In 1963, leading the Hot-club of Portugal quartet, he appeared at the festival of Comblain-la-Tour (Belgium). Returning to Portugal, he performed with Gerry Mulligan, Dexter Gordon and Pony Poindexter. In 1967 he moved back to Belgium, and, for economical reasons, decided to drop his musical activities.
- In 1962, he participated, with Milou Struvay, in the creation of the soundtrack of the first movie of the Portuguese new wave, "O Balarmino", by Fernando Lopes.
- In 1958 he joined the band of Jacques Pelzer and Benoît Quersin, with whom he appeared on the historical LP "Jazz in Little Belgium" with Milou Struvay (tp), Joel Van Drogenbroek (piano) and Vivi Mardens (drs). During that period he also recorded the soundtrack of a Belgian movie (Venice Prize) by Luc De Heusch, and met his friend and accomplice Marc Danval, who starred in the movie.
- A close friend of Chet baker, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell and Gerry Mulligan since the late '50s, Jean-Pierre Gebler developed a warm, soft tone on the baritone sax, and a deep knowledge and love for the West Coast, Bop, Cool Jazz, and Post Bop repertoire.
- Very much impressed by Gerry Mulligan and Lars Gullin, he decided to tackle the baritone sax.
- He was considered as one of the best baritone saxophonists in Europe. He also excelled at the piano and has made numerous recordings on both instruments.
- In 1956/57 he won, twice, first prize of the Belgian HotT Club competition.
- Jean-Pierre Gebler made his first acquaintance with the saxophone at age 14. A year later, he became Jack Sels' student.
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