Pierre Michelot

Pierre Michelot earned acclaim as the foremost European jazz bassist among musicians of his era, working alongside numerous postwar luminaries such as Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. He entered the world in St-Denis, France, on March 3, 1928. Piano lessons occupied his childhood years until he turned to classical bass at age 16. Regular performances for American troops stationed in France followed the end of World War II, spreading awareness of his natural, clear tone and impeccable rhythmic sense rapidly among United States jazz players. Paris studio dates from the late 1940s list him supporting Coleman Hawkins, Sidney Bechet, and Rex Stewart. Work with bop figures including Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and Zoot Sims came next, and in 1953 he took part in the final recording session by pioneering guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Parisian clubs hosted him steadily through the 1950s, with prolonged residencies at the Club St. Germain, the Ringside, and the Blue Note, often alongside American drummer Kenny Clarke. Late in 1957 Miles Davis selected Michelot personally for the improvised soundtrack to Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud, the debut feature from director Louis Malle. Two years afterward he joined pianist Jacques Loussier on Play Bach, an unexpected commercial success that led to two sequels and a tour with drummer Christian Garros lasting on and off for roughly 15 years. In 1960 Michelot established the long-lived trio HUM together with pianist René Urtreger and drummer Daniel Humair. Three years later the Academie du Jazz presented him with its Prix Django Reinhardt for his contributions to French jazz.

Relentless studio and touring commitments filled the next quarter century, marked by a 1986 appearance with star Dexter Gordon in the film Round Midnight, director Bertrand Tavernier's affectionate portrait of 1950s Paris jazz culture; further tours with Gordon followed. After a 1990 engagement at New York's Village Vanguard alongside guitarist Christian Escoudé, Michelot eased his pace while still performing with HUM toward the decade's close. Following a battle with Alzheimer's disease, he died in Paris on July 3, 2005.