Niles Smiles Music proudly presents In This Quiet Room, a rare and extraordinary archival recording featuring the legendary Academy Award-winning French composer and pianist Michel Legrand and acclaimed vocalist Tony Walthers. This unique musical collaboration, born from an unexpected encounter, was released on February 17, 2025.

Legrand, renowned for his timeless compositions first encountered Walthers at a concert he was conducting in 1994 at the MIDEM Festival in Cannes, where Diana Ross was honored as Woman of the Year. Ross rarely attended rehearsals, relying on Walthers to sing for her, working with the conductor in her absence. Legrand was captivated by his voice and extended an invitation to record together at his Paris studio. However, scheduling conflicts delayed this dream collaboration until fate intervened years later in 2002.
Walthers met Legrand again by chance at a session at a London studio. Walthers mentioned he was recording an album with producer Richard Niles. Inspired, Legrand immediately invited them to his Paris studio. Legrand allowed them to choose any four songs from his extensive catalogue. Knowing there would be no rehearsal, and that the recordings would be live, Walthers and Niles worked in London, delving into the endless creative possibilities of these iconic works. A few days later, they arrived in Paris to explore their selection of Legrand’s most cherished compositions: I Will Say Goodbye, Summer Me, Winter Me, In This Quiet Room, and The Summer Knows.

The recording process was as spontaneous as it was magical. Nothing could have fully prepared them for the sheer brilliance of Legrand’s pianism—improvisational, passionate, and endlessly expressive. Walthers, known for his exceptional sensitivity and vocal artistry, met Legrand’s dynamic interpretations with equal spontaneity, resulting in a live recording that resonates with intimacy, mutual admiration, and an unwavering love for musical exploration.

At the session’s conclusion, Legrand embraced Walthers, exclaiming, “We follow each other so closely, it is as if we are one person. Some singers are confused by my improvisations! But you are so free to sing these songs with such emotion and musicality—without treating them as though they are museum pieces. For me, this is a musical dream come true!”

To which Walthers, whose illustrious career includes performances with Sting, Tina Turner, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, Toto, Robert Palmer, Kylie Minogue, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, and Natalie Cole, replied, “I assure you, Michel, the dream is mine!”

For years, these priceless recordings remained lost—until now. Thanks to the dedication of producer Richard Niles, In This Quiet Room is finally available for audiences to experience and cherish. This is a once-in-a-lifetime document of two masterful musicians in perfect harmony, captured live and unfiltered, with no overdubs or studio enhancements.