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Emie R Roussel Trio

Junos nominated in 2021 for Jazz Album of the Year category: Group, recipient of the 2021 Hagood Hardy - Jazz Prize awarded by SOCAN, winner of the Stingray Rising Stars at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival in 2018, the Félix for jazz album of the year 2015 at ADISQ for the third album Quantum as well as the 2013-2014 Prix Opus for Jazz Record of the Year with the second album, TRANSIT, the Emie R Roussel Trio has established itself as a must-have in the current Canadian jazz scene.

With Emie Rioux-Roussel on piano (Révélation Radio-Canada Jazz 2014-2015), Nicolas Bédard on bass and Dominic Cloutier on drums, the trio delivers creative and captivating jazz with indisputable spirit and chemistry. Special mention from the jury during the Grand Prix de Jazz TD at the 34th Montreal International Jazz Festival and the 2013 Public Favorite Prize at the Festi Jazz international de Rimouski, the group has multiplied concerts in Canada since its creation in 2010 and asserted its presence internationally, presenting his music in twelve countries on four continents (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Estonia, United States, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Belgium and Sweden)

The trio's fourth album, Intersections, released in September 2017, was nominated for a Félix for Album of the Year – Jazz at ADISQ 2018 and at the Prix Opus 2019. The concert Intersection also received a nomination at the Prix Opus 2019 in the Concert of the Year – Jazz category. In 2019, the Emie R Roussel Trio had the honor of being one of eight groups from outside Europe selected for “Overseas Night” to present an official showcase as part of the prestigious JAZZAHEAD! Festival 2019 in Bremen, Germany.

Ten years after its founding, the Trio launched its 5th album, Rythme de passage, in February 2020, during its 5th European tour where the group, among other things, performed for the first time in Sweden as part of the Stockholm Women's International Jazz Festival. Rythme de passage was nominated for a Félix for Album of the Year – Jazz at ADISQ 2020. In 2022, the group was back to Europe for a concert in Italy and Belgium. In April 2024, the trio presents a first tour of 5 concerts in Sweden.

Awards

Awards and recognitions: Junos nominated in 2021 for Jazz Album of the Year category: Group, recipient of the 2021 Hagood Hardy - Jazz Prize awarded by SOCAN. Rythme de passage was nominated for a Félix for Album of the Year – Jazz at ADISQ 2020 • Official showcase in the "Overseas Night" at the prestigious festival JAZZAHEAD! 2019 in Bremen, Germany. • The Trio’s 4th album Intersections, was nominated for the Felix of the Album of the Year - Jazz at l’ADISQ 2018 and at the Prix Opus 2019. • The concert Intersections also received a nomination at Prix Opus 2019 in the category Concert of the Year - Jazz. • Winner of the Stingray Rising Stars Award at the 2018 TD Halifax Jazz festival • Winner of the 2015 Félix award at l’ADISQ for jazz album of the year for their 3rd album Quantum • Winner of the 2013-14 Opus prize for jazz album of the year for their 2nd release, TRANSIT • Chosen the be the Revelation Radio-Canada in Jazz 2014-2015 • Special mention from the jury of the TD Grand Jazz Award at the 34th Montreal Jazz Fest in 2013 • Audience choice award at the 2013 Festi Jazz International de Rimouski, Qc, Canada

Emie R. Roussel: TERR

Read "TERR" reviewed by Konstantin N. Rega

by Konstantin N. Rega
June 11, 2026

Even after 15 years of creative synergy, the Montréal-based Emie R Roussel Trio continues to flex its creative muscles with sensitivity and sophistication. TERR seems to center around the common themes of togetherness and community, of what humanity shares and the spaces we co-inhabit. Emie R. Roussel on piano and keyboards with Nicolas Bédard on electric bass and Dominic Cloutier on drums. The trio balances interesting rhythms, piano riffs and airy atmospheres. Though the first track is more conservative in ...

Album Review

Emie R. Roussel: TERR

by Hrayr Attarian
June 8, 2026

Over a career spanning a bit more than a decade, award-winning Canadian pianist Emie R. Roussel has developed a unique style. It draws on both the Western classical tradition and jazz. Furthermore, her captivating music is a deft mix of exciting spontaneity and a poetic undercurrent. Her fourth release as a leader with her working trio is the wistful and cinematic Terr. It consists of seven of Roussel's originals that, in their thematic unity, reflect on humanity's collective experience ...

Radio & Podcasts

Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, Jake Baxendale, Fie Schouten, Samuel Torres

by Cheryl K.
May 21, 2026

During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music--selections from new releases by trumpeter Brian Lynch; Greenhouse Ensemble; vocalist Julia Keefe and her Indigenous Big Band; pianist Elan Mehler; saxophonist Jake Baxendale; Emie R Roussel Trio; clarinetist Fie Schouten; WaSaBi Trio; and percussionist Samuel Torres.Playlist Frank Carlberg “International Man of Mystery" from Monk Dreams, Hallucinations, and Nightmares (Red Piano) 6:48 Brian Lynch “But Beautiful" from Torch Bearers (Hollistic MusicWorks) 10:50 Greenhouse Ensemble “Diomede" from Mezzanine (Greenhouse Ensemble) ...

Live Review

Jazz In Paris

by Martin McFie
March 19, 2020

Various VenuesParis, France March 11-15, 2020 Paris is a timeless and beautiful city, uniform in its Hausmann architecture and relaxed in its easy, cool charm. Not all jazz clubs here have the same presentation. These are some of the clubs and the styles of music being presented live in the city. Sunset-Sunside is two jazz clubs in the same building in rue des Lombards, (metro Chatelet), fronted by a terrace. It was founded ...

2020 (About Rythme de passage)

Mike Gates, UK Vibe, United Kingdom

“The interaction and understanding between the threesome makes for some wonderful moments, with the group interplay particularly noticeable throughout the session.”

Thierry Docmac, PARIS MOVE, France

2020 (About Rythme de passage)

Mike Gates, UK Vibe, United Kingdom

“The interaction and understanding between the threesome makes for some wonderful moments, with the group interplay particularly noticeable throughout the session.”

Thierry Docmac, PARIS MOVE, France

“The Emie R Roussel (Trio) is a trio of great, very great talents […]. Each one of their albums has a meaning, a depth, and benefits from a high-level quality of realization.”

Ivan Rod, Danmark ★★★★

“I see similarities with a band like The Bad Plus when I hear the trio, but still: It is also quite obvious – a fascinating, innovative familiarity that seeks the original and reveals both individual and collective quality.”

Guillaume Bourgault-Côté, Journal Le devoir, Canada

“The acoustic and electric instrumentations are a blend of various influences, of which we retain the contemporary anchoring, the remarkable efficiency of the grooves […], (and) a definite lyrical sense.”

Chris Spector, Midwest Record, United States

“A high minded piano trio that’s just tearing it up in the northern climes grabbing every award they seem to be within 50 feet of. […] Smartly done.”

2017 (About the album Intersections)

Guillaume Bourgault-Côté, Journal Le Devoir, Canada “Great grooves, rich compositions, ever-present dynamism, meticulous textures and contrasts.”

Claudia Beaumont, Ici Musique (Radio-Canada), Canada “In our opinion, Intersections is the result of an expert combination of past and present influences, demonstrating surprising maturity in the writing, elegant as anyone could wish for, while preserving the fiery aura that emanates from their ambitious youth.”

Raul da Gama, The Whole Note, Toronto, Canada « Music on Intersections is patently expansive and at times a veritable masterclass in how to build assiduous climaxes, how to intelligently scale one’s dynamics and how to balance the music’s massive textures in sonorously judicious proportions. »

Michel Dupuis, Le Magazine Son & Image, Canada “Clearly funky architecture, melodic themes constantly renewed by each musician’s interactive playing, and remarkable cohesion acquired over many tours.

Christophe Rodriguez, Journal de Montréal, Canada “More than high-end jazz, this is a mature album that demonstrates how much patience and hard work can “pay off”.”

Nicolas Pelletier, REVERB, Canada “Emie R Roussel Trio –a thousand and one subtleties.” “This is another solid album that feeds the already rich jazz scene here!”

Étienne Anne-Lovely, Album of the day, Journal 24 heures, Canada “The pieces in this album range from acoustic to more electric rhythms, but always in perfect musical symbiosis.”

Richard Dion, Musicomania, Canada « With Intersections, it is an inspired and inspiring album that the Emie R Roussel Trio suggests, a highly creative contemporary jazz album. »

John Sharpe, London Scene Magazine, Canada « At times mellow and introspective, at others robust and electric the chemistry between Roussel and her talented sidemen is evident throughout. »

2017 – On the concerts

Magazine Cairns life, Australia « Having taken the Canadian and world jazz music scene by storm, the critically acclaimed award- winning trio Emie R Roussel have a strong message with their music : to touch people through a personal, thoughtful and coherent musical proposition. »

Peter Rechniewski, The Foundry 616, Australia « If you missed this outstanding trio at the club back in 2014, then be sure to book ahead this time » Joanne Kee/interview with Lynette Irwin, Jazz Australia, Australia « I want to encourage people to take a punt on the incredibly talented young French/Canadian pianiste Emie R Roussel. »

2016 (on the concerts)

Alain Brunet, La Presse, Canada “Nice attack on the piano, beautiful articulation, excellent sense of rhythm. A powerful sound emerges from her keyboard when it’s time to raise the stakes.”

Christophe Rodriguez, Journal de Montréal, Canada (Emie R Roussel Trio), “At the cutting edge of dynamic jazz […] Let’s say it again, she (Emie R Roussel) and her trio are definitely a solid value.”

Torino Cronacaqui, Italy “Emie embodies the esthetics of the new generation of Canadian jazz musicians, guided by respect for the tradition and the search for new musical languages.”

Marco Basso, Journal LaStampa, Italy (The Emie R Roussel Trio) “Award-winning, creative and fascinating, they have performed all over the world and are garnering vast success.”

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