FORM-Idea

With the first note you know you are in the hands of an artist. Terrasson plays with his whole body as if he wants to jump in to the piano. Reminiscent of Little Richard, his performance is exciting, engaging and exhilarating but at the same time one feels that it doesn’t really matter to him if the audience is big or small, or even if there is anyone watching, he’s having a great time and that’s contagious. He plays like a painter throwing paint at a giant canvas, seemingly randomly, testing what works but with such mastery that one senses it can’t be random at all. Terrasson makes you want to leap out of your seat and dance, the way he does while he is playing, occasionally jumping on his feet or tirelessly moving up and down the piano stool.

Shifting seamlessly from an apparently anarchic bashing of the keys to the most gentle, tender touch, Terrasson appears at times to be making love to the keys and at others hitting them as if he is chiding naughty children. He takes you on a helter-skelter journey from wanting to bounce up and down in an almost punk like pogo, to a mellow let’s sit by the fire with a glass of red wine and chill. But you never quite settle with him in the quiet moments, not trusting that they will last.

The first time I saw Terrasson, he was a guest pianist with a band at the Marciac Jazz Festival. From the moment his fingers touched the keys I knew he was a genius on another plane. I have seen him three times now and he never disappoints. He wakes up a dormant part of me that falls in love with his notes and my spirit dances with his. One watches transfixed every movement of his fingers, arms and elbows, the strange flicking of his right arm which one doesn’t know if it is a musical effect or because he has a muscle ache he needs to release. His slow, emotional numbers evoke an intimacy in which one feels invited  to share something very special with him.

Born in Berlin in 1965, Terrasson’s mother was African-American and his father French. He started learning the piano at the age of 5 and became interested in Jazz when he heard his mother play Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. In 1993 he won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. He has made several albums, one of which was dedicated to his mother. He now leads a trio and tours the world, sometimes with his own band and others as a guest. If you see his name listed anywhere, whether or not you are a fan of Jazz or piano, I highly recommend seeing him. I don’t know what makes a great artist or genius but from the first to the last note you are certainly in the presence of one with Terrasson.

www.jackyterrasson.com