Recognized by his peers in the world of jazz and classical, a master of several generations, the pianist, composer and improviser Martial Solal died at the age of 97. Born in Algiers on August 23, 1927, he died during his transfer from Chatou (Yvelines), where he lived with his family, to Versailles hospital on December 12 at 5 p.m., as announced by his son, Eric Solal.
“I never listened to records. I didn’t want to be like anyone, not even those I admired. I felt isolated, unloved, demanding, I was the one who didn’t understand anything, the one who didn’t play like X or Y, who I didn’t appreciate less for it. I had progress to make, that’s for sure. I felt that I was only at the beginning of a long journey. But luckily, I was my own best critic, aware of my weaknesses but confident in what I firmly intended to become. » This proud statement opens My jazz centuryautobiography that Martial Solal had just published in August (Frémeaux & Associés, 160 pages, 20 euros). At a rate of 50 pages a day, he worked on volume 2. The fatigue of the days at the vanquished. Achieving perfection, over a very long life, is a sport: “The bread must be worked physically, with exercises”he said.
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