Country

:

France

Birth

:

March 3, 1928 in Saint-Denis, France

Death

:

July 3, 2005 in Paris, France

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Film

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Orchestral

 

Pierre Michelot was a French jazz bassist and classical music artist who was born on March 3, 1928, in Saint-Denis, France. He was raised in a musical family, and his father was a violinist. Michelot began playing the piano at a young age, but he switched to the double bass when he was 16 years old. He was self-taught and learned to play by listening to recordings of jazz musicians. Michelot began his professional career in the late 1940s, playing with various jazz bands in Paris. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented bassist and was soon playing with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Miles Davis, Bud Powell, and Dexter Gordon. In 1953, Michelot joined the house band at the Club Saint-Germain in Paris, where he played with many American jazz musicians who were visiting Europe. In addition to his work as a jazz musician, Michelot was also interested in classical music. He studied composition and orchestration with Nadia Boulanger, a renowned French composer and teacher. Michelot's interest in classical music led him to collaborate with many classical musicians, including the French pianist Jacques Loussier and the American conductor Leonard Bernstein. Michelot's career as a classical music artist began in the 1960s, when he started playing with the Orchestre National de France. He also played with the Orchestre de Paris and the London Symphony Orchestra. Michelot's classical music performances were well-received, and he was praised for his technical skill and musicality. One of Michelot's most notable performances as a classical music artist was his collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on the recording of Bernstein's "Mass." Michelot played the double bass on the recording, which was released in 1971. The recording was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Michelot as a respected classical music artist. Michelot continued to perform and record throughout the 1970s and 1980s, both as a jazz musician and a classical music artist. He played with many of the biggest names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and Chet Baker. He also continued to collaborate with classical musicians, including the French pianist Michel Petrucciani and the American conductor Seiji Ozawa. In addition to his work as a musician, Michelot was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Conservatoire de Paris and the École Normale de Musique de Paris, where he mentored many young musicians who went on to have successful careers in music. Michelot received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the Grand Prix du Disque and the Prix Django Reinhardt. He was also made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, one of France's highest honors. Michelot died on July 3, 2005, at the age of 77. He left behind a legacy as one of the most talented and versatile musicians of his generation. His contributions to both jazz and classical music continue to be celebrated by music lovers around the world.

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