FLYING WITHOUT WINGS: JACKY TERRASSON

BUENA PARK, CA (December 27, 2002)—Yamaha piano artist Jacky Terrasson wanted to fly 747s as a child. Today, he still flies—figuratively speaking—in soaring jazz tones across the keyboard. The 36-year old jazz musician, GRAMMY®-nominated in 2001 for the album Kindred, is hailed as one of the bright young faces on the traditional jazz scene.

Yamaha Piano artist Jacky Terrasson

Being one of the jazz world's most talked about piano player/composers since he won the Thelonious Monk Competition in 1993, Terrasson will embark on a January 2003 U.S. tour, beginning in Oakland, CA and finishing in New York City. Known for as feathery touch, yet forged with ample power and passion, Terrason puts his personal stamp on any well-known tune he plays, and performs on a Yamaha CFIIIS Concert Grand Piano.

"I always ask for a CFIIIS for my concerts, and I just recorded a trio album on it as well," he notes. "Another great instrument is the C7 conservatory grand piano, perhaps my favorite for clubs. I love their exceptional tone and mechanical regularity across the keyboard."

Born in Berlin to a French mother and an American father, Terrasson's distinctive piano style reflects old and new influences. He began playing piano at age five, and his parents were always playing classical music on the stereo. At age eleven, he began listening intently to Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk records that belonged to his mother—and at that point, he was hooked on playing jazz piano.

"I realized music was a much more spiritual thing—something you could feel but not touch. It was a place where an adolescent could go and have anything, and imagine anything," explains Terrasson. "The music of Bud Powell, Ravel, John Coltrane, Debussy, Dexter Gordon and Chick Corea represented something magical and mysterious."

Terrasson began performing piano recitals as a student at the elementary school in his home town of Croissy sur Seine, France. He has since toured with jazz legends that include Ugonna Okegwa, Kenny Garrett, Jim Anderson, Jesse Davis, Ron Carter, Bob Belden, Gregoire Maret, Stefon Harris, Stefano Di Battista, Mulgrew Miller, Tom Harrell, Joe Fields and Joel Dorn.

"Playing on great pianos like the CFIIIS has made me rethink about my touch and my technique," notes Terrasson. "The piano is so responsive and fast—it's a weight thing. Also, I love gadgets, and my first great musical gadget was the Yamaha QY22 Sequencer. I always took it on the road, put my new tunes in there and practiced them at a piano with a bass/drum sequence going to headphones. I'm just fascinated by the combination of music and science. It has a very real no limits feeling to it."

Terrasson released two albums in 2001: A Paris and Moon & Sand; and Lover Man in 2002. His latest release, Smile, a trio recording featuring Sean Smith on bass and Eric Harland on drums, will be released in the U.S. January 2003.

"I think the only thing that will keep this music growing is the musicians playing it," says Terrasson. "Pop and Folk artists are now incorporating more jazz elements and are also working with jazz musicians. I'm pretty sure jazz will just continue to become more and more universal and profoundly touch other forms of musical expression."

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com.