Michel Sardaby

Born in Fort-de-France, Martinique, he moved to Paris, where in March 1967, he was one of the pianists, the others being Joe "Stride" Turner, Errol Parker, Claude Bolling, Stuart de Silva, and Aaron Bridgers, accompanied on some tracks by bassist John Lamb, among others, who recorded the 90-minute session known as Tape for Billy, dedicated to Billy Strayhorn, who was in hospital. Duke Ellington, also in Paris, personally supervised the recording, although he did not actually perform on it himself, and wanted to use the proceeds from its sale to create a Billy Strayhorn scholarship in Paris,[1] similar to the one at Juilliard in New York.[2]

Sardaby's first album Five Cat`s Blues was recorded in October 1967 in Paris with 5 compositions created by the pianist. In 1970, he led a trio comprising Percy Heath and Connie Kay for his second album, Night Cap. A 1972 New York recording has him leading a line-up comprising Richard Davis, Billy Cobham and Ray Barretto (Sound Hills Records 1997). His album, Gail (1974), won the 1976 Prix Boris Vian.[3]

For his 1989 album, Going Places, he was accompanied by Rufus Reid and Marvin "Smitty" Smith, and in 1993, he recorded with his quintet, which comprised Ralph Moore, Louis Smith, Peter Washington and Tony Reedus.

As leader/co-leader

• 1969 Five Cat`s Blues (President)
• 1970: Night Cap (Sound Hills)
• 1970: Blue Sunset
• 1972: Michel Sardaby in New York (Sound Hills)
• 1974: Gail
• 1989: Going Places
• 1990: Night Blossom (DIW Records)
• 1993: Straight On (Sound Hills)
• 2003: Karen

With T-Bone Walker

• Good Feelin' (Polydor, 1969)