Manuel is from a musical family. His grandmother was a pianist teacher and his grandfather a flutist. Manuel’s mother is cellist and viola player, and his aunt plays the violin. Lionel Rocheman, his father (guitarist/actor), founded the “Hootenanny”, an American Center in Paris that hosted performers from all over the globe. His brother, Oscar Peterson, gave him a record of his playing solo at the age of 10 (it was called ‘Tracks’). Manuel had already established his own four-year track record in piano. He felt a sense of freedom listening to the Canadian virtuoso and wanted to follow the same path. The harmony and rhythm of Jazz was what won him over. When he was 12, Bob Vatel, the pianist, invited him to join his jam sessions in Paris Jazz clubs. Manuel needed to become technically proficient. He did this by meeting Alberto Neuman at C.N.R de Paris. This was one of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli’s rare disciples. He greatly improved his piano technique with his mentor. He took music academy courses in writing, percussion and composition. He also worked alongside Jazz pianists Gabriel Garvanoff, Nicolas Montier and Michel Sardaby. He met Tommy Flanagan, Jaki Byard and others while he was in New York in 1980. They remained in touch until his death. Bob Vatel introduced Martial to Martial Solal that year, and Martial agreed to be Manuel’s only pupil. He was already performing in Paris professionally by 1983 with a trio. In 1984, he performed two pianos at the Paris Jazz Festival with Martial Solal. From then on it was one performance after another. His immense talent was quickly recognized by the profession. He won the 1989 Martial Solal Jazz Piano international competition as best French pianist. He won the Academie du Jazz’s best disc award in 1991 for his first CD Trio Urbain. He won the Django d’Or in 1992 for his second album White Keys, which was the best French CD. Fondation BNP paribas, one the few jazz sponsors, was impressed by his personality. It supported his career from 1995 to 2002. He was awarded the Django Reinhardt Prize at the Academie du Jazz in 1998 for musician of the Year. Manuel Rocheman is a great pianist, appearing often as a trio, solo, or in a duo with Olivier Ker Ourio and Sara Lazarus. He is sought out by performers from all walks, including Sylvain Betuf and Anthony Ortega, as well as double-bass players George Mraz, Al Foster, and Aldo Romano. The Orchestre National de jazz commissioned him to compose a piece called ‘San Felipe’ for the ONJ, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Montpellier. Manuel has been a member since 2004 of the International Jazz Orchestra under Dusko Goykovich. His albums with George Mraz, double bass player, and Al Foster, drummer, have shown Manuel’s talent as a composer. Manuel’s solo album Alone at Last features him on his own, along with Al Foster. He is also back in trio with “Cactus dance” in 2007. from www.manuelrocheman.com
