Martial Solal was born in Algiers in 1927, when the city was part of what was known then as French Algeria. At 6, he began taking piano lessons and for years played classical pieces. Then he discovered the extraordinary recordings of Teddy Wilson and Art Tatum, and turned to jazz.
Solal moved to Paris in 1950 and played with a variety of bands and combos. In April 1953, he recorded with Django Reinhardt on what would be the guitarist's last studio session. Reinhardt died a month later in May. Coincidentally, on the day Reinhardt passed, Solal was in the French Swing label's studio making his first trio recordings, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Pierre Lemarchand on drums.
These 1953 recordings and the rest of Solal's trio dates up until 1962 remain among my favorites by him. They are remarkable for his Bud Powellian speed and fluidity, his strong sense of swing and his swirling attack on the keyboard. These recordings can now be found on Martial Solal Trio: Complete Recordings 1953-1962 a two-CD set from Fresh Sound.
The bassist and drummer in Solal's trios were different on each session, yet the material from beginning to end is solid, alive and innovative. The 33 tracks on this set include standards and many gems, including Jimmy Raney's Signal and loads of originals, including Midi 1/4 and Farniente. In fact, virtually the entire second disc of recordings from 1960 to 1962 features his own compositions. Seven of them were recorded live at a Paris concert in '62.
If you're looking for an entry point for Solal, this is it. You can hear instantly what made him exceptional and you'll revel at the sound of his fingers working the keys like a bootblack with a cloth snapping away on a pair of shoes. The sound of Solal's piano is lyrical but it's also marvelously innovative and, most of all, physical.
Martial Solal is still with us at age 96.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Martial Solal Trio: Complete Recordings 1953-1962 (Fresh Sound) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Signal...
And here's Averty, C'est Moi...
Solal moved to Paris in 1950 and played with a variety of bands and combos. In April 1953, he recorded with Django Reinhardt on what would be the guitarist's last studio session. Reinhardt died a month later in May. Coincidentally, on the day Reinhardt passed, Solal was in the French Swing label's studio making his first trio recordings, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Pierre Lemarchand on drums.
These 1953 recordings and the rest of Solal's trio dates up until 1962 remain among my favorites by him. They are remarkable for his Bud Powellian speed and fluidity, his strong sense of swing and his swirling attack on the keyboard. These recordings can now be found on Martial Solal Trio: Complete Recordings 1953-1962 a two-CD set from Fresh Sound.
The bassist and drummer in Solal's trios were different on each session, yet the material from beginning to end is solid, alive and innovative. The 33 tracks on this set include standards and many gems, including Jimmy Raney's Signal and loads of originals, including Midi 1/4 and Farniente. In fact, virtually the entire second disc of recordings from 1960 to 1962 features his own compositions. Seven of them were recorded live at a Paris concert in '62.
If you're looking for an entry point for Solal, this is it. You can hear instantly what made him exceptional and you'll revel at the sound of his fingers working the keys like a bootblack with a cloth snapping away on a pair of shoes. The sound of Solal's piano is lyrical but it's also marvelously innovative and, most of all, physical.
Martial Solal is still with us at age 96.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Martial Solal Trio: Complete Recordings 1953-1962 (Fresh Sound) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Signal...
And here's Averty, C'est Moi...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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