Michel Legrand

Michel LeGrand composed many of the most popular movie themes of the 1960s, '70s and '80s. But LeGrand is also a performer of long standing, and while he often plays his own songs, this 2002 set is the first time he tackled such tunes as "Windmills of Your Mind" and "The Summer Knows" alone at the piano. As usual, LeGrand displays his florid streak (the guy loves sweeping his hands across the keys), but after the intro he often strips things down and lets his famous melodies ride a gentle jazz groove.