Michel Graillier

Michel Graillier (born October 18, 1946 in Lens , France, † February 18, 2003 in Paris ) was a French jazz pianist.

Live and act

Graillier learned classical piano from the age of four and completed an engineering training in Lille. After completing his training, he went to Paris, where he became a member of the Chaméléon trio with Aldo Romano and Jean-François Jenny-Clark . He worked with Jean-Luc Ponty and from 1969 with Steve Lacy . With Georges Arvanitas , René Urtreger and Maurice Vander he formed the group Piano Puzzle ; he was also a member of Jacques Pelzer's Open Skye Unit .

From 1972 to 1974 he was a member of the group Magma (with Christian Vander ); he also worked with musicians such as Christian Escoudé , Barney Wilen , Steve Lacy and François Jeanneau . As a pianist for the Riverbop jazz club , he has performed with traveling American musicians such as Philly Joe Jones and Steve Grossman .

Later he was a member of the groups Dréher and Magnetic Terrasse and appeared in two trio formations with Alby Cullaz and Christian Vander and with Barney Wilen and Jacques Pelzer. In 1977 he met Chet Baker , whom he accompanied regularly for ten years. He also worked as a companion to Éric Le Lann , Philip Catherine , Paolo Fresu , Pharoah Sanders , Barney Wilen and others.

In the 1990s he appeared in a trio with Alby Cullaz and Simon Goubert , in a duo with Riccardo Del Fra or as a soloist. In addition to several albums with Chet Baker, he worked as a sideman of Steve Grossman, Jacques Thollot , Steve McCraven , Daniel Humair , François Jeanneau and others. He also recorded albums as a band leader and soloist.

Graillier was married to the drummer Micheline Pelzer .

Discography

• Ad Lib with Jean-François Jenny-Clark and Aldo Romano, 1976
• Portrait in Black & White with Alain Jean-Marie , 1995

Web links

• Graillier website