OFF JAZZ GRAND CONCERTS SERIES
Date: October 5, 2023- 🎷 Event: L’Off Jazz – Grand Concerts Series
- 🎺 Confluence – Duo François Bourassa / Philippe Côté +
- 🎹 François Bourassa Quartet
- 📅 Date: October 5, 2023
- ⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 9:45 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
- 🏢 Venue: Le Ministère
- 📍 Address: 4521, St. Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC, Canada
To open the festival, L’OFF JAZZ grants pianist François Bourassa, a leading figure in Quebec jazz for over 30 years, carte blanche. For this occasion, he presents two distinct projects: Confluence, a duo with saxophonist Philippe Côté, and Swirl, with his steadfast quartet whose reputation precedes them. Like the confluence that occurs when two rivers come together to become one, François Bourassa and Philippe Côté join forces to create a unique universe where improvisation takes center stage. Inspired by the encounter between the jazz and classical musical spheres and their shared love for contemporary music, the duo’s repertoire features their respective compositions and contemporary pieces by Messiaen, Boulez, and Ligeti. A special project offering us mysterious, touching, and accessible music. François Bourassa – pianist, composer, improviser – has become an ambassador for Canada’s thriving jazz community on the international stage. A model of constant evolution, he continues to seek new challenges for himself, his colleagues, and his growing community of listeners. Philippe Côté – composer, saxophonist, improviser – is a musical explorer at the crossroads of jazz and classical, renowned for his compositions for large ensembles (jazz orchestra, chamber music). The François Bourassa Quartet has been a cornerstone of the Montreal artistic landscape for over 25 years. Their deep musical camaraderie and exceptional talent make them a pinnacle of artistic expression. The repertoire of the album “Swirl,” which will be presented at this concert, was recorded live at Studio Piccolo in Montreal on July 2 and 3, 2022, capturing the energy and spontaneity that accompany a live performance. Original compositions by François Bourassa, each demonstrating the quartet’s versatility and passion for jazz. From the mesmerizing motifs of the piece “Pooloop” to the explosive coda of “15 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette,” listeners can expect a rich and engaging musical journey. François Bourassa – pianist, composer, improviser
Guy Boisvert – double bass
André Leroux – saxophone
Guillaume Pilote – drums | 
