One of the most creative pianists to come out of France was and still is Martial Solal, who’s found in his strongest setting, the trio, in this collection of studio and concert recordings on this two disc set. The studio trio sessions range from 1953-55 and are all set in Paris, with Solal in four completely different teams, which include Americans Joe Benjamin/b and Roy Hayne/dr from 1954 as well as Jean-Marie Ingrand or Pierre Michelot/b with Pierre Lemarchand or Jean-Louis Viale. Solal is spry and bouncy on “Dinah” and gives a bop take of “Just One Of Those Things” while his own “Midi ¼” is a cleverly arranged affair. Haynes and Benjamin snap Solal to attention on “The Way You Look Tonight” and are luscious for “Darn That Dream.”
From 1960, Solal teams up with GuyPedersen/b and Daniel Humair/dr for a handful of originals that feature a warm “Quin-Quin” a pretty “Bonsoir” and a sparkling “Middle Jazz.” With the same team he’s recorded in a concert in Paris, and except for the cleverly arranged take of Duke Jordan’s “Jordu” he keeps to his own songbook, and it’s impressive. The team bops on the crisp “No Smoking,” creates sharp angles on “Dermaplastic” and says to Pedersen’s bow on “Averty, ce’set Moi.” There’s plenty of room for soloing, but Solal frames them within original charts as deft and tasty as a green macaroon. The liner notes give plenty of info and perspective on this important artist.