Michel Portal
Photo: File:Terrasson Jackie Portal-Michel-domicil dortmund.jpg…, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Saxophonists · 1935–2026

Michel Portal

French composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist

Born
27 November 1935
Bayonne
Died
12 February 2026
14th arrondissement of Paris
Country
France
Active
1958–2024
Discography
27 albums

Biography

Michel Portal was a jazz musician who played saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet and bandoneon. Michel Portal was born on 27 November 1935 in Bayonne and died on 12 February 2026 in 14th arrondissement of Paris. The music is usually filed under jazz and classical music. The discography here lists 27 albums, from “Our Meanings And Our Feelings” (1969) to “Un été à la garoupe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (2020). Honours include Prix Django Reinhardt (1968), Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (2011) and Victoires du Jazz.

Michel Portal (27 November 1935 – 12 February 2026) was a French composer, saxophonist and clarinetist. He played both jazz and classical music and is considered to be "one of the architects of modern European jazz".

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Our Meanings And Our Feelings 1969
Alors!!! 1970
Les Cavaliers de l'Orage 1984
Max mon amour (Musique du film de Nagisa Oshima) 1986
Turbulence 1987
Arrivederci le chouartse 1990
Live de Lille - November 1990 1990 · Live
Splendid Yzlment 1990
Dejarme Solo ! 1991
Any Way 1993
La Machine 1995
Dockings 1999
Fast Mood 1999
Burundi 2000
Minneapolis 2001
Minneapolis Tour Guide 2002
Minneapolis We Insist ! 2002 · Live
Birdwatcher 2007
Jean de la Fontaine : le défi 2007
Men's Land 2008
Remembering Weather Report 2009
Baïlador 2010
Radar 2016
Eternal Stories 2017
Double 2020
MP85 2020
Un été à la garoupe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2020

Also plays on

Albums where Michel Portal is credited as a sideman

1964 Gainsbourg Percussions — Serge Gainsbourg tenor saxophone

Awards

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Michel Portal play?

Michel Portal is known for playing saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet and bandoneon.

When and where was Michel Portal born?

Michel Portal was born 27 November 1935 in Bayonne.

What are Michel Portal's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Our Meanings And Our Feelings (1969), Alors!!! (1970), Les Cavaliers de l'Orage (1984), Max mon amour (Musique du film de Nagisa Oshima) (1986) and Turbulence (1987).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.