Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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TERRASSON, Jacky

(b 27 Nov. '66, Berlin) Piano. With a French father and an American mother, he grew up in Paris, studied classical piano, turned to jazz. Studied in Paris, then Berklee; spent a year in the French Army, worked with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Brown in Europe; moved to NYC, worked with Betty Carter, drummers Art Taylor (incl. his album Wailin' At The Vanguard) and Cindy Blackman (Telepathy). Recording with bassist Pierre Boussaguet in France, he and trumpeter Tom Harrell (fresh from Phil Woods's quintet) used leftover studio time to produce duo Moon And Sand '91 on Jazz aux Remparts, an impressive debut for both. Terrasson's quartet What's New '92 on that label incl. Blackman, with Antoine Roney on reeds, Clarence Seay on bass. He won the Monk piano competition '93; Lover Man that year on Venus established the trio with drummer Leon Parker and bassist Ugonna Okegwo, which moved to Blue Note for Jackie Terrasson '94 and Reach '95. Rendezvous '97 was a duo with Cassandra Wilson. Terrasson's impetuous and eclectic style comes with plenty of technique; he is an artist to watch.