René Urtreger (born July 6, 1934, in Paris; died July 16, 2026, in Le Perche) was a French jazz musician (piano, composition).

Urtreger received classical piano training and began playing jazz in a small Parisian club while a member of a student orchestra. In 1953, he won a competition for amateur pianists and decided to pursue a professional career in music. The following year, he performed at the Salon du Jazz, accompanying visiting musicians such as saxophonist Don Byas and trumpeter Buck Clayton.

During his military service (1955–57), Urtreger performed in the Saint-Germain district with Lester Young—who hired him as the pianist for a brief European tour in 1956—as well as with Chet Baker, Bobby Jaspar, and Miles Davis; he also contributed to the film score for *Elevator to the Gallows* (*Ascenseur pour l'échafaud*). In the late 1950s, he performed with Lionel Hampton, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, and Ben Webster, as well as with Michel Hausser (on the album *Mr. Vibes: Quartet & Octet Sessions 1958–1960*).

In 1960, he participated in the Antibes Jazz Festival with Guy Lafite, and in 1965, he took part in recording sessions documenting the collaboration between Stuff Smith and Stéphane Grappelli (released as *Everest* and *Stuff & Steff*), before stepping away from the jazz scene for an extended period.

He returned to jazz in 1977, performing alongside Lee Konitz, Pierre Michelot, Aldo Romano, and Barney Wilen. In 1980, he once again participated in the Antibes Jazz Festival and subsequently toured with Chet Baker and Gary Burton.

He received the Prix Django Reinhardt in 1961 and the Académie Charles Cros's Grand Prix du Disque in 2014.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Urtreger

Rene Urtreger – Recidive*

Rene Urtreger - A Night in Tunisia