Martial Solal, R.I.P.

[EKE BBB]

So sad to report the passing of one of the greatest European jazz pianists. He was 97 years old.

😔

Rest in peace, Monsieur Solal. 

Edited Thursday at 11:31 PM by EKE BBB

[JSngry]

Another one who was consistently interesting.

When they're gone, they're gone.

RIP

[mikeweil]

Another sad loss, but a life fulfilled. R.I.P.

[sgcim]

Yes, as Jim said, when someone like Martial is gone, he's gone. There will never be another pianist like that ever again. RIP, to one of the of the greats.

[HutchFan]

Ugh. Sad news.

But I'm grateful for the all the extraordinary music.

R.I.P.

 

[T.D.]

RIP.

Sad news but thanks and a full life.

Been a tough year this way.

[romualdo]

sublime music for 7 decades - what an achievement

RIP Martial

only recently picked up the two previously unreleased Dial solo recordings he made in LA in '66

[John L]

It was great to have him with us for so long.  RIP

[mjzee]

I was transfixed by this, which turned out to be his last concert.  I included a track on my last BFT.  A great artist, a great musician, a great mind.  RIP.

[soulpope]

Thank you for the music and R.I.P  ....

[optatio]

A rich life - R.I.P. ...

[aparxa]

Merci pour l'univers musical !

[Daniel A]

Rest in peace. He was one of a kind.

 

Edited Friday at 09:27 PM by Daniel A

[Teasing the Korean]

RIP.

The Breathless soundtrack is a fave.

 

[HutchFan]

NY Times obit:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/arts/music/martial-solal-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hU4.okc9.O6ag4CJ_Bh6Z&smid=url-share

Edited Saturday at 12:28 AM by HutchFan

[65Jaypee]

A true gentleman.

Interesting detail: his very first recording session was also Django Reinhardt's very last. In fact, he was the last (known?) living musician to have played with Django.

Of course, there are many recordings to be recommended, both solo and in trio. But I have a particular fondness for his duets. I've always found that he was also an outstanding accompanist and that his duets - without bass or drums - were very often particularly successful.

I am of course thinking of recordings such as the one with Lee Konitz (MPS and Hatology), Didier Lockwood (JMS), Toots Thielemans (Erato), Michel Portal (BMG France), Stéphane Grappelli (Owl), Dave Liebman (Sunnyside), Éric LeLann (H&L), Niels-Henning Oersted-Pedersen (MPS), Johnny Griffin (Dreyfus Jazz), Dave Douglas (CamJazz) and a lesser-known one, but also quite excellent, with Jimmy Raney (Stil). I am not familiar with his piano duos with Joachim Kuhn and Hampton Hawes though... But I'm sure there's great music there too!

And then there are his big band sessions... Many treasures to find there as well. 

An exemplary discography, just like the musician himself! Finally, a personal note: I had the chance to chat with him several years ago and, on top of being a first-class musician, he was en extremely nice person with a good sense of humour and self-irony.

The jazz world is in mourning and so am I!

 

Edited Saturday at 08:39 AM by 65Jaypee

[EKE BBB]

RTVE’s ‘Jazz Entre Amigos’ program, dedicated to Martial Solal, presented by the sorely missed Juan Claudio Cifuentes, ‘Cifu’. 12th December 1988.

https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/jazz-entre-amigos/jazz-entre-amigos-martial-solal-retrato-musico/5716886/

[Peter Friedman]

R.I.P.

[clifford_thornton]

This is indeed sad news, but a consistently full & interesting life he had, and we were able to participate in at least some of it!