Saxophonist, composer, improviser.
Alto and soprano saxophonist, composer and improviser François Carrier was awarded the
Juno Award for “Best Contemporary Jazz Album” in March 2001 for his Compassion album on
Naxos Jazz.
In his 35 years musical career François has played in numerous jazz festivals around the
world, including the “Festival de Jazz de Montreux”, the “Jazz à Vienne” in France, the North
Sea Jazz Festival, the Jazzmandu Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Jazz
Festival, to name a few.
In 2002 François stayed six months in the Quebec Studio in Rome (CALQ), where he
composed new works and got acquainted with the Italian musical milieu.
So far, François has released 24 CDs on labels such as Justin-Time Records, Spool Records,
Leo Records (UK), FMR Records (UK), Ayler Records (Sweden), Naxos Jazz, 482 Music
(Chicago). He has played and recorded with jazz giants such as Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, Bobo
Stenson, Tomasz Stanko, Uri Caine, Jason Moran, Dewey Redman, Mat Maneri, Sonny
Greenwich, Jean-Jacques Avenel, Pierre Côté and has been a long time collaborator with
drummer Michel Lambert. Together, Michel and François have toured in several occasions in
Europe, Asia and Canada.
In February 2008, FMR Records released “Kathmandu” recorded live in Nepal. In June 2008 Leo
Records released “Within”, with his guests Michel Lambert and French bassist Jean-Jacques
Avenel. In March 2009 Creative Sources released “Nada”. In 2010 François was the guest of
Swiss Improv signer Véronique Dubois on a new Leo Records album titled “Being With”.
In 2011 Ayler Records released “Entrance 3” with guest pianist Bobo Stenson. Leo Records
released “Inner Spire” recorded live in Moscow, Russia in December 2010. Then “All Out” on
FMR and “In Motion” on Leo were launched at the Vortex on December 6th in London with
special guests double-bassist John Edwards and pianist Steve Beresford. Hence, François lived
in London at the Quebec Artist Residency from the CALQ untill January 3rd 2012.
Back home in Montreal, François is now working on different projects which will be published
soon.
Every life form in the universe is a source of vibration, hence music. So let's sing, dance and
play to the sounds of Life. F.C.
