Jean Michel Pilc

Born on November 13, 1973 in Philadelphia, Ari Hoenig, was exposed at an early age to a variety of musical experiences. His father is a conductor and classical singer, his mother a violinist and pianist. Accordingly, at 4 years of age, Ari began studying the violin and piano. He began playing drums at age twelve, and by age fourteen he was honing his skills with other young jazz musicians at Philly clubs such as Ortlieb’s JazzHaus.

When it comes to defining the ever-evolving musical artistry of renowned vocalist JD Walter, love is most beautifully expressed when it comes Dressed in a Song. Perfectly reflecting the multi-talented vocalist, eclectic recording artist and well-traveled performer’s career long credo that “being a musician is being a verb, an ever-changing force,” the singer’s new album is a unique session pairing his versatile lead voice on a collection of standards and originals with six of jazz’s most inventive pianists and improvisers. Testament to Walter’s ongoing dedication to his craft, the collection also represents a powerful comeback for the singer, his first release since recovering from a life-threatening heart condition and surgeries on his heart and vocal cords. Dressed in a Song will be available worldwide on February 7th, 2020.

This project grew out of my encounter with Jean-Michel Pilc. I was lucky enough to work alongside this great musician during my four-year stay in Montreal.

It's no coincidence Jasper Somsen's 3rd (and later this year 4th) Challenge Records album features an international piano trio line up. Recent years performing and/or recording in trio with a.o. Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, John Beasley, Jeff Ballard, Justin Faulkner and Andre Ceccarelli, he is much sought-after by pianists. The former New York, now Montreal-based French master pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc and one of Jasper's all-time favorite French drummers Andre Ceccarelli joined him for this diptych. At their first encounter ever, this trio with Jean-Michel Pilc and Andre Ceccarelli recorded A New Episode in Life Part I & A New Episode in Life Part II in just two days. The album contains nine melodically strong instrumental compositions by double bass player, Jasper Somsen. Transparency is the key word in musical expression and form throughout the entire album, similar to songs without words.

It's no coincidence Jasper Somsen's 3rd (and later this year 4th) Challenge Records album features an international piano trio line up. Recent years performing and/or recording in trio with a.o. Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, John Beasley, Jeff Ballard, Justin Faulkner and Andre Ceccarelli, he is much sought-after by pianists. The former New York, now Montreal-based French master pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc and one of Jasper's all-time favorite French drummers Andre Ceccarelli joined him for this diptych. At their first encounter ever, this trio with Jean-Michel Pilc and Andre Ceccarelli recorded A New Episode in Life Part I & A New Episode in Life Part II in just two days. The album contains nine melodically strong instrumental compositions by double bass player, Jasper Somsen. Transparency is the key word in musical expression and form throughout the entire album, similar to songs without words.

Of Greek and African origin, singer Elisabeth Kontomanou has worked with musicians on both the European and American scenes: Leon Parker,Ari Hoenig,Jean-Michel Pilc, Michel Legrand, Mike Stern, Jon Hicks (RIP) and Alain Jean-Marie to name but a few. She first gained recognition at French ‘Concours de La Defense’ and was nominated for a Django d’Or Award in 1999. As well as performing across several continents, Elisabeth has also played at such world-renowned New York jazz venues as the Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Sweet Basil and the Knitting Factory. Surrounded by exceptional French and American artists, Elisabeth Kontomanou offers us a few years of her life in music, signing here one of the most beautiful albums of the decade.

In November 1953, When The RTF Recorded Georges Brassens At The Trois Baudets, It Did Not Two Years He Has Been Singing In Public. After A Visit To Patachou, Who Literally Pushed Him Onscene At The Beginning Of 1952, Jacques Canetti Hired Him In His Small Theater Where He Quickly Went To Make A Name.

"Missing Element - Live at Upstairs" is the first effort by the Alex Francoeur as a leader. Alex has composed all of the music, with the exception of one jazz standard, ''I Hear a Rhapsody''. The goal of this record was to capture the energy and spirit of live jazz music; exciting, unpredictable and daring. His quintet, comprised of Chris Edmondson on alto saxophone, Gentiane MG on piano, Levi Dover on bass and Louis-Vincent Hamel on drums, do justice to this objective in brilliant fashion, with each of their individual voices shining through while conserving a concise group sound.

Saxophonist Margitza - who appeared in one or two of Miles Davis's late-80s fusion bands - is in London next Monday and Tuesday with a very different project to this - playing small-group contemporary jazz with the Moutin Brothers quartet. Bohemia is an altogether bigger and bolder operation, highlighting the Coltrane-influenced Margitza's interest in extended composition and adding a thick-textured, fusion-friendly soup of basses, keys, bouzoukis, voices, strings and Ennio Morricone-like whistling to some agile soprano and tenor sax lines.

"Missing Element - Live at Upstairs" is the first effort by the Alex Francoeur as a leader. Alex has composed all of the music, with the exception of one jazz standard, ''I Hear a Rhapsody''. The goal of this record was to capture the energy and spirit of live jazz music; exciting, unpredictable and daring. His quintet, comprised of Chris Edmondson on alto saxophone, Gentiane MG on piano, Levi Dover on bass and Louis-Vincent Hamel on drums, do justice to this objective in brilliant fashion, with each of their individual voices shining through while conserving a concise group sound.