Michel Graillier

Michel Grailler was a Pianiste of Jazz French born the October 18th 1946 with Lens (Pas-de-Calais) and deceased the February 11th 2003 with Paris.

Biography

Some four years age at its 18 years, Michel Graillier learns the traditional piano. Teenager, it is however with the battery that it occurs for the first time on scene with a group Yéyé amateur. He makes “Sup Maths” and a school of engineer with Lille. It is there that it meets the double bass player Didier Levallet who initiates it with the jazz.

Secured by its diploma, it settles in Paris where it occurs in clubs. One can hear it in trio in the “Chaméléon” with Aldo Romano and Jean-François Jenny-Clark. He accompanies during three years the violonist Jean-Luc Ponty. Following “personal problems”, it stops in time the music.

In 1972, he is contacted by the beater Christian Vander which engages it in its group “Magma”. Graillier plays of the keyboards in this group during two years. He plays then with Christian Escoudé, Steve Lacy, François Jeanneau… During several years, he is regular pianist of the club, the “Riverbop” where it at the time of accompanying by many musicians of which American of passage (Philly Joe Jones, Steve Grossman…). He occurs then in the “Dréher” and “Magnetic Terrasse”, in particular in trio with Alby Cullaz and Christian Vander, but also with Barney Wilen or Jacques Pelzer. It is the latter, whose in addition Michel Graillier married the Micheline girl, who presents it in 1977 to Chet Baker.

During almost ten years, Michel Graillier regularly will accompany the trumpet player. He also accompanies by the musicians like Eric Lelann, Philip Catherine, Alain Jean-Marie, Paolo Fresu or Pharoah Sanders. He occurs also regularly in duet with the double bass player Riccardo LED FRA or in trio with Alby Cullaz and Simon Goubert.

Patient, it dies in February 2003.

Disciple at the same time of Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner, Michel Graillier was a Master very fine pianist and particularly moving main by the half-tone and twilight environments.

Discographies

Dream drops - (c) OWL Records, 1992
Software talk - (c) Sketch, 2000
Night-birds in duet with Alain Jean-Marie - (c) Song of the World, 2004
Fairly - The Supplements Session - (c) Song of the World, 2005
Portrait in black and white in duet with Alain Jean-Marie - (c) Emarcy, 2005

External bonds

Interviews:

http://www.jazzmagazine.com/Interviews/Dhier/mgraillier/mgraillier.htm
http://www.jazzmagazine.com/Interviews/Dauj/mgraillier/mgraillier.htm

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