Claire Devlin

Biography
Articles

Claire Devlin is a saxophonist and composer based in Montreal. She leads the Claire Devlin Quartet and released her debut album, “Anyone,” in 2020. Claire is also a member of the collective Bellbird, which released its debut album “Root in Tandem” in 2023. Claire performs regularly with various ensembles including the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra, the Plastic Waste Band, the Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal, Rommel Ribeiro, Thus Owls, Christine Jensen’s “Equal=Orchestra”, Unessential Oils, and Tommy Crane.

Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra: Harbour

Read "Harbour" reviewed by Scott Lichtman

by Scott Lichtman
August 8, 2024

There's something special about Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra's Harbour. Foremost, the album builds on Jensen's acknowledged talent as master composer for over 25 years. She writes songs that stimulate the emotions as well as the intellect, and she arranges them using rich, cross-instrumental blends and fresh, punctuated motifs. While Jensen already has won JUNO awards in Canada for best jazz album, Harbour raises the bar. That is because it is inspired by deeply personal themes and because her ...

Album Review

Bellbird: Root In Tandem

Read "Root In Tandem" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
August 20, 2023

Give Canada's Bellbird credit as they come right out of the gate with a chip-on-the-shoulders confidence. Their debut, Root In Tandem, looks like one of those late-50s/early-60s, time-themed Dave Brubeck albums. Credit the gorgeous abstract cover painting. The cover art, though, is where the Brubeck comparison ends. Bellbird is a chordless quartet, with Claire Devlin and Allison Burik on saxophones, Eli Davidovici on bass, and Mili Hong in the drummer's chair. The four Bellbird players came up in ...