The Franco-American pianist performs in Paris after the release of his album “Moving On”.
After three decades of a multi-awarded career supported by a fervent public, the Franco-American pianist Jacky Terrasson has decided to reinvent himself. His new album, Moving Onsounds like a new beginning, on a musical and personal level. “I left New York, where I had lived for thirty years, to settle in Bordeaux four years ago,” explains this veteran of transatlantic flights, born in 1965 to a French father and an American mother, and who wants “let me not be forgotten there”. The musician also left the multinational record company Universal Music to launch into production. “I wear the hat of an entrepreneur but I benefit from the support of the Naïve label and the Believe structure to support me,” confides this hyperactive person.
“I have neither the desire nor the time to be a full-fledged producer. But it’s interesting to go find the studio yourself, to choose the musicians you want to play with and to ensure that the project succeeds.”Moving On is one of the greatest successes to be credited to this virtuoso pianist, who practices eclecticism with great relish. “A lot of things were done impromptu with this record: I love that.”
An album in his image
Bringing together original compositions and covers, recorded both with French and Americans, Moving On constitutes a good representation of the man’s dual culture. We hear many guests, from legendary drummers Billy Hart and Eric Harland to singers Camille Bertault and Kareen Guiock-Thuram. “With Billy, we played Misty to put ourselves at ease before moving on to my composition Go Round»he remembers.
The Frenchwoman Camille Bertault, specialist in vocal arabesques, works wonders on Are you following me?, of which she wrote the text, delivered very quickly, perhaps even a little too much. “I decided to print the lyrics in the booklet, laughs Terrasson. If other people present texts to me, I would love to put them to music. Just as I would like to put my music at the service of images.”
An accomplished musician, a fulfilled man, the fifty-year-old is beginning the second part of a stimulating career. “As for Kareen Guiock-Thuram, I met her during the Porquerolles festival. I fell under the spell of his voice. She has a bit of the same warmth in her tone as Cassandra Wilson, with whom I worked a long time ago. Very dynamic, enthusiastic and cheerful, Jacky Terrasson has created an album that reflects his image. “I wanted to tell my story of binationality and double culture.” A new beginning marked by the resumption of Happy by Pharrell Williams, a true hymn to joy which sits alongside a composition in homage to Édith Piaf.
June 4, 5 and 7 at Bal Blomet (Paris 15e).