Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

August 23, 1927 in Algiers, Algeria

Genre

:

Film

 

 

Keyboard

 

Martial Solal is a French jazz pianist and composer who was born on August 23, 1927, in Algiers, Algeria. He grew up in a musical family, with his father playing the violin and his mother singing in a choir. Solal began playing the piano at a young age and quickly showed a talent for improvisation. In 1949, Solal moved to Paris to pursue a career in music. He quickly became a sought-after pianist, playing with some of the biggest names in French jazz, including Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Solal also began composing his own music, drawing on his classical training and his love of jazz. Solal's first major composition was his Concerto for Jazz Piano and Orchestra, which he wrote in 1953. The piece was a groundbreaking work that blended jazz and classical music in a way that had never been done before. It was performed by the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, with Solal himself playing the piano solo. Over the next few years, Solal continued to compose and perform, both as a solo artist and with various jazz ensembles. He also began to gain recognition outside of France, performing at jazz festivals around the world and collaborating with American jazz musicians like Lee Konitz and Gerry Mulligan. In 1963, Solal composed the score for the French film "À bout de souffle" ("Breathless"), directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film's innovative use of jump cuts and its unconventional narrative structure made it a landmark of the French New Wave, and Solal's jazzy score perfectly captured the film's cool, edgy vibe. Solal continued to compose for film and television throughout the 1960s and 1970s, working on projects like the TV series "Les Cinq Dernières Minutes" and the films "Un singe en hiver" and "Le Cercle Rouge." He also continued to perform and record as a jazz pianist, releasing albums like "Solal!," "At Newport '63," and "Martial Solal Trio." In the 1980s and 1990s, Solal's career continued to flourish. He performed at major jazz festivals around the world, including the Montreux Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival. He also continued to compose, writing music for the ballet "Le Loup" and the film "La Guerre des Boutons." In 2005, Solal was awarded the Django Reinhardt Prize for his contributions to jazz music. He has also been awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros and the Prix Boris Vian, among other honors. Today, at the age of 93, Solal continues to perform and record. His music remains a unique blend of jazz and classical influences, and his innovative approach to composition and improvisation has inspired generations of musicians.

More....