Michel Portal


Michel Portal is a French composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He plays both jazz and classical music and is considered to be "one of the architects of modern European jazz".

Early life

Portal was born in Bayonne on 27 November 1935. His family was musical and there were several instruments in his house when he was growing up. His interest in jazz began after hearing it on the radio after World War II. He studied clarinet at the Conservatoire de Paris and conducting with Pierre Dervaux.

Later life and career

Portal "gained experience in light music with the bandleaders Henri Rossotti and Perez Prado, as well as with the drummer Benny Bennett, Raymond Fonsèque, Aimé Barelli, and, for many years, the singer Claude Nougaro". Portal co-founded the free improvisation group New Phonic Art. During 1969, Portal played on a recording of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Aus den sieben Tagen.
Portal began scoring music for films in the 1980s. He has won the César Award for [Best Music Written for a Film] three times.

Discography

As leader

  • Our Meanings and Our Feelings
  • Alors!!!
  • Splendid Yzlment
  • A Chateauvallon: No, No But It May Be
  • Sonates Pour Clarinette et Piano, Op. 120
  • Dejarme Solo!
  • Arrivederci Le Chouartse
  • L'ombre Rouge
  • Men's Land
  • Turbulence
  • Concerto Pour Clarinette
  • Any Way
  • Musiques De Cinemas
  • Dockings
  • Rencontre Duos Pour Clarinette
  • Fast Mood
  • Burundi
  • Minneapolis
  • Minneapolis We Insist!
  • Concerts
  • Birdwatcher
  • Bailador
  • Radar
  • Eternal Stories
  • ''MP85''

As sideman

With Barbara
With Richard Galliano
  • Laurita
  • Blow Up
  • French Touch
  • Concerts Inedits
With Laurent Korcia
  • Danses
  • Doubles Jeux
  • Laurent Korcia
With others