Michel Sardaby, born on 4 September 1935 in Fort‑de‑France, Martinique, was a French jazz pianist who began studying piano at five under his father Bernard Sardaby. After moving to Paris and graduating from the École Boulle, he entered the Paris jazz scene, recording the 90‑minute Tape for Billy in 1967 under Duke Ellington’s supervision. His album Five Cat’s Blues (1970) introduced his original compositions, followed by Night Cap (1970) with Percy Heath and Connie Kay, and In New York (1972) featuring Richard Davis, Billy Cobham, and Ray Barretto. Subsequent releases included Gail (1975) and Going Places (1990). Sardaby received the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Music Council in 2004 and a Grammy for teaching. He passed away in Paris on 6 December 2023.
