Legendary Jazz Pianist Martial Solal Dies at 97

The French musician, known for his improvisational brilliance and iconic film scores, passed away in Versailles on December 12, 2024.

Martial Solal, a globally renowned jazz pianist and composer, died of natural causes at 97 in a Versailles hospital.
Born in Algeria in 1927, Solal rose to prominence in Paris's jazz scene during the 1950s, performing with legends like Sidney Bechet and Dizzy Gillespie.
He composed over 100 recordings and contributed iconic film scores, including Jean-Luc Godard's 'À bout de souffle.'
Solal's innovative style bridged jazz and classical music, earning him accolades like the Jazzpar Prize in 1999 and the Grand Prix de l'Académie du Jazz in 2021.
His final public performance was in 2019, and his memoir, 'Mon siècle de jazz,' was published earlier this year.