René Urtreger, a leading figure in French jazz and a longtime collaborator of Miles Davis, has died at the age of 92. The pianist and composer passed away around 20:30 p.m. at the hospital in Mortagne-au-Perche, in the Orne department, where he had lived since 2000. His son, Philippe Urtreger, also a professional musician, announced his death. "He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family ," he said.
A historic night with Miles Davis
René Urtreger's name remains inextricably linked to the soundtrack of Elevator to the Gallows , Louis Malle's 1958 film. In December 1957, Miles Davis brought together René Urtreger on piano, Barney Wilen on saxophone, Pierre Michelot on double bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. The musicians recorded the music while watching the film. The pieces were improvised, without a fully written score, based on a few hints from Miles Davis. This late-night session gave birth to one of the most celebrated soundtracks in French cinema and definitively established René Urtreger among the most important musicians in the history of European jazz. René Urtreger had met Miles Davis when he was 22. The American trumpeter then chose him to accompany him on two European tours before calling him to record Louis Malle's film.
From classical piano to bebop
Born on July 6, 1934, in Paris to a family of Polish Jewish immigrants, René Urtreger began playing piano in his childhood and received classical training at the conservatory. His youth was disrupted by the Second World War. In 1944, his mother was arrested and deported to Auschwitz. As a teenager, he discovered jazz and became passionate about the playing of Bud Powell, one of the masters of bebop. In 1953, at the age of 19, he won first prize at the National Jazz Tournament. This victory quickly opened doors for him in Parisian clubs and with bands accompanying American musicians visiting France. He then played with Don Byas, Buck Clayton, Chet Baker, Kenny Clarke, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, Stéphane Grappelli, Bobby Jaspar, and Lester Young. René Urtreger notably accompanied Lester Young during his last recording session, released under the title * Le Dernier Message de Lester Young* (The Last Message of Lester Young).
The trio HUM, a leading French jazz group
In 1960, René Urtreger formed the trio HUM with bassist Pierre Michelot and drummer Daniel Humair. The group's name was taken from the first letters of their three surnames. Their first album, HUM!, received the Django Reinhardt Prize as well as the Grand Prix du Disque from the Académie Charles Cros. The trio reunited several times, notably in 1979 and then in 1999. René Urtreger also pursued a solo career, performing in duos and leading his own groups. He made a full-fledged return to the jazz scene during the 1970s with the album Récidive , released in 1978, before performing extensively and collaborating with several generations of musicians.
From Claude François to Serge Gainsbourg
René Urtreger's musical horizons weren't limited to jazz. From the 1960s onward, he accompanied several stars of French chanson. He notably played in Claude François's orchestra and worked with Serge Gainsbourg and Sacha Distel. This foray into popular music allowed him to continue his work as a studio musician while maintaining close ties with jazz. He later reunited with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Barney Wilen, and many representatives of the new French generation.
Several awards for his entire career
Nicknamed "King René" in the jazz world, René Urtreger received a Victoire du Jazz award in 2000. He was awarded a Victoire de la Musique in 2005 for his lifetime achievement. Already a Knight and then an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2010. With his passing, French jazz loses one of the last musicians to have directly shared the stage and studios with the great American figures of 1950s bebop. His participation in Elevator to the Gallows , his recordings with the trio HUM, and his collaborations with Miles Davis, Lester Young, and Chet Baker remain central to his musical legacy.
