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JazzLab Orchestra

The Jazzlab Orchestra, based in Montreal, defines itself as a specific group, a true institution in the world of Canadian jazz since 2004. The group explores musical writing in many styles, each time supported by stunning composers and musicians. Always keen on originality, always attached to gravitating a core of astonishing artists, it elaborates with inspiration and audacity each project since its creation. Practically the only group of its kind in Canada, he has released 7 albums and given more of 300 concerts since his creation, performing on the best stages of major jazz festivals and several prestigious venues in North America and Europe, including: The Jazz at the Lincoln Center (NY), the New Morning, the Café de la Danse (Paris), the Casa del Jazz (Rome), the Grande Teatro (Sicily), the Jazz Station (Brussels) and the Budapest Music Center (Budapest), etc.

Usually made up of 8 leaders of Quebec jazz, this "Large Format " ensemble gave also 39 special concerts with many international artists like: Ted Nash, Seamus Blake (sax), Stephane Belmondo (trp), Chinese singer Zhao Ke, Don Thompson (vib), Mark Feldman (vl) and Donny MacCaslin (sax) which were greatly received by many audiences and professionals. During the Jazz en Rafale 2015 festival, he performed the superb music of american composer and double bassist Rufus Reid with a Jazzlab that was fully inflated with 22 musicians, plus singer Carole Therrien.

All of the Jazzlab Orchestra's projects, without exception, have been nominated in the categories of best jazz album and/or best jazz concert at ADISQ, JUNO, Prix OPUS, Choc JazzMan, Downbeat, etc. Among these nominations are those of the latest project "Quintessence" nominated at ADISQ in the categories of best album of the year 2019, Hit of the month (best jazz CD of the month in Nov 2019) in the magazine Couleurs Jazz (France) and 4 & 5 stars in several other magazines.

The musicians of the Jazzlab Orchestra:

Mario Allard (soprano, alto, baritone sax, clarinet), Benjamin Deschamps (soprano, tenor sax, flute), Annie Dominique (soprano, alto sax, bass clarinet), Jacques Kuba Seguin (trumpet), Thomas Morelli-Bernard (trombone), Félix Stüssi (piano), Alain Bédard (double bass), Michel Lambert (drums) - occasional contributions : Alex Francoeur (saxophones), Nicolas Boulay (trumpet) & Olivier Hébert (trombone).

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Album Review

JazzLab Orchestra: Loguslabusmuzikus

Read "Loguslabusmuzikus" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Jazzlab Orchestra è un medio organico costituito da tre ance e due ottoni in varie combinazioni, più una sezione ritmica con pianoforte. Opera da quasi due decenni nel Quebec (Canada), ha pubblicato sette album, collaborato con jazzmen statunitensi di primo piano (Ted Nash, Seamus Blake, Donny McCaslin, Rufus Reid) e dato svariati concerti in Nord America e in Europa, compresa l'Italia (la Casa del Jazz). La caratteristica principale dell'ottetto è la versatilità: grazie alle ottime doti individuali e ...

7
Album Review

JazzLab Orchestra: Loguslabusmuzikus

Read "Loguslabusmuzikus" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Jazzlab Orchestra has been a fixture on the jazz scene in Canada for nearly two decades. Their unique heavy sound features six brass and reed players with a relatively standard piano, bass and drum rhythm section, and they've captured that sound on several standalone recordings and presented it on more than 300 concert stages across North America and Europe. The music on Loguslabusmuzikus, nine new pieces written by bassist Auguste Le Prez under the subtitle “The New Experience: ...

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Album Review

Jazzlab Orchestra: Loguslabusmuzikus

Read "Loguslabusmuzikus" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Jazzlab Orchestra, formed in 2004 and based in Montreal, Canada, lies somewhere short of orchestra-size. It's actually an octet—but don't let that deter you; the unison passages are generally robust and pleasing. Jazzlab does play jazz of a sort, music that may best be described as contemporary cerebral. In other words, this is not akin to the Dave Pell or Marty Paich octets; it's more along the lines of Gunther Schuller, Jan Garbarek or William Russo. But even though ...

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Recording

World Colors: A New Album by John Roney and Jazzlab Orchestra

World Colors: A New Album by John Roney and Jazzlab Orchestra

Source: Vivo Musique Internationale

The music on this album is inspired by the travels of pianist and composer John Roney as a professional musician and the many musical worlds he has found. He has been fortunate to enjoy a wide range of musical cultures from across the globe, both as a listener and as a performer, and to experience these cultures intimately. This album is a reflection of the places he has been, the people he has met, and the music he has experienced ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Loguslabusmuzikus

Effendi Records
2021

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Octo Portraits

Effendi Records
2014

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Videos

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