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Martial Solal: Coming Yesterday: Live At Salle Gaveau 2019
BySolal, who in 2010, aged eighty-two years, was still receiving royalties from Godard's movie, went on to say that being offered the commission had been for him like winning the lottery, for at the time he was the modestly paid house-pianist at the St Germain des Prés jazz club, living a life as financially precarious as any lower-rung jazz musician anywhere in the world. As singular and asymmetrical a pianist and composer as, say, Thelonious Monk, Solal had no expectations of ever having money in the bank, much less an upmarket home in Chatou. The ongoing income from A Bout De Souffle helped him to continue to put artistic integrity before commercial considerations. For which jazz lovers can be as grateful as he was.
Coming YesterdayLive At Salle Gaveau 2019 is, says Solal in 2021, his final album. He did not know it would be that at the time, imagining instead that it might be the start of a new trajectory in which he would concentrate on standards, eight of which he transforms on this album (the other two tracks, "Coming Yesterday" and "Sir Jack," are originals). But, now aged ninety-three years, Solal has decided to retire while he is still ahead. The album is an elegant and idiosyncratic valedictory in which "Lover Man," "My Funny Valentine" and "Have You Met Miss Jones" are among the tunes given treatments as fresh as the day they left their composers' hands. Solal even succeeds in making "Happy Birthday" sound interesting and unusual for four and a half minutes. Bon voyage, maestro. Enjoy your retirement.
Track Listing
I Can’t Get Started; Coming Yesterday: Medley Ellington; Sir Jack; Tea For Two; Happy Birthday; Lover Man: I’ll Remember April; My Funny Valentine; Have You Met Miss Jones.
Personnel
Martial Solal
pianoAlbum information
Title: Coming Yesterday: Live At Salle Gaveau 2019 | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Challenge Records