Jazz Articles about Steve Amirault

About Steve Amirault

Album Review

Christine Jensen has been described by jazz writer Mark Miller of The Globe and Mail as “one of the most important Canadian composers of her generation." Jensen grew up in Nanaimo, British Columbia with the likes of tenor saxophonist Phil Dwyer and pianist & vocalist Diana Krall but is now based in Montreal, Quebec. She originally went to that city to attend McGill University from which she received her first degree in jazz performance in 1994 and, subsequently, a Masters ...

Album Review

Montreal Jazz Trio: Montreal Jazz Trio

Read "Montreal Jazz Trio" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
October 23, 2021

We had the Modern Jazz Quartet, sometimes tagged MJQ, from 1952 until--after a stop and start or two--the early 90's. They were a class act, playing in formal attire, playing classically-influenced jazz with a dollop (sometimes more than a dollop) of the blues. Restraint and laid back complexity was the name of the game. Now we have the Montreal Jazz Trio (we could call them MJT, though there is no indication that they have ever claimed that title) ...

411

From Far and Wide

Steve Amirault: One Existence, Two Voices

by Pascal-Denis Lussier
October 17, 2010

Initially, I was disappointed to find out that pianist Steve Amirault was taking this new direction. Jazz singers have never really been my thing. Anyone that knows me knows I have a penchant for the lyric-less stuff--music that breaks all bounds, and language tends to impose extreme restrictions. Nonetheless, despite my own usual preferences, I'm always drawn towards good, honest, original music; good will always be good. And then there's great: music that, no matter the style or genre, draws ...

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Album Review

Steve Amirault: Breath

by Budd Kopman
April 3, 2006

Steve Amirault has produced a fine piano trio album in Breath. He's not a tricky player, but his music brims with emotion; his melodies and style reflect a very personal means of expression with little that would be called straight-ahead jazz. Though Amirault clearly has the chops, his playing is not about showing off or using outlandish harmony. The mix of grand melodic, dynamic and textural gestures gives his music the feel of high theatrical drama--with much intensity, no harshness, ...

100

Album Review

Steve Amirault: Breath

by John Kelman
December 21, 2005

Gradually, and with little fanfare, the Canadian Effendi label has been amassing a substantial catalogue of contemporary jazz with special focus on Montreal's vibrant scene. That's not to suggest that all its artists are born and bred Montrealers. Pianist John Roney--heard recently on saxophonist Remi Bolduc's Cote D'écoute (Effendi, 2005)--originally comes from Toronto, while saxophonist Christine Jensen hails from British Columbia. But an increasing number of artists seem to be finding their way to Montreal. With strong scenes in cities ...