Extraordinary Canadian pianist, Jean-Michel Pilc has unveiled his new release, Alive – Live at Dièse Onze, Montréal, via Justin Time Records. Pilc is joined by his bandmates Rémi-Jean LeBlanc and Jim Doxas on bass and drums.
Available now, the liner notes of Alive reveal Pilc describing this state as “improvising musicians in their natural habitat, the jazz club, playing music for the sake of music, never repeating themselves, and creating sounds that they will never replicate.”
“Improvisation is often associated with freedom, but beware of appearances,” Pilc expands. “When inspiration strikes, music has a way to lead you from one moment to the next that gives you no choice but to follow the flow. And when all the members of the band hear the same sound, all of it, and react not as individuals but as part of that sound, then it feels like home, or family.”
This concert, recorded in June 2021, marked the trio’s first performance since the onset of the COVID pandemic.
“The music was vital, to us and to the audience, and we experienced the full gamut of human emotions,” Pilc shares. “When we played that night for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, that feeling of evidence was palpable, more than ever; Montreal is lucky to have such a beautiful club as Diese Onze, and I’m sure the listener will feel the warmth and swinging atmosphere of the place.”
Music like this can only be achieved by such consummately impeccable musicians as these three gentlemen. LeBlanc and Doxas are not simply sidemen by any means, as Pilc’s music demands far more ownership of the music by all the collaborators. Throughout the album, the bass and drums solos are never just there to give them some playing space but are fully woven into the textural fabric of each piece.
The concert was recorded on its entirely and the remainder of the music is available in digital form only. You can find the complete second set on your favorite streaming or download site. For more information, click HERE.
Watch “Eleanor Rigby” live at Diese Onze in Montreal below, and stay up to date with Jean-Michel via his socials.
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