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Alex Lefaivre

Alex Lefaivre is a bassist, composer and pedagogue based in Montreal, Canada. He is a founding member of the Parc X Trio, winners of the TD Grand Prize for Jazz at the Festival de Jazz de Montréal (2010) that have produced 7 recordings. He is also a founding member of Multiple Chord Music (MCM), a jazz label which has released over fifty recordings from local artists such as Gentiane MG & Frank Lozano, Benjamin Deschamps, Rachel Therrien, Rémi- Jean LeBlanc, Joel Miller, François Jalbert & Jérôme Beaulieu.

As a solo artist, he released YUL (2018). Taking its name from Montreal’s airport code, Alex takes the listener on a cinematic trip through the city, where dreamy, hazy summer vibes are intertwined with a gritty, metropolitan edge. It received critic al acclaim and has been described as a terrific amalgamation of modernity and tradition, deploying a mature and cohesive musical vision, performed by a quartet which displays a wide variety of textures with a enthralling and lilting vigor.

Alex is also a rising star as a media composer in Quebec, scoring a variety of projects amongst which many are part of his home province’s comedy scene. His music can be heard on Mariana Mazza’s Maria, her full-length feature to be released in theatres August 21st 2021 as well as various web series featuring Rosalie Vaillancourt such as the upcoming Complètement Lycée (Winter 2022), Rosalie: La Comédie Musicale (Fall 2020) as well as Le Killing seasons 1 & 2.

He is currently a course lecturer and CIT Academic Advisor at l’École de musique Vincent- d’Indy, in Montréal. As a sideman, he has shared the stage and recorded with a wealth of local artists such as Michelle Sweeney, Joel Miller, Aliocha, Klo Pelgag, Kalmunity as well as co-writing with artists such as Sonia Johnson.

On August 27th 2021, he will release his sophomore quartet album entitled Naufragés (“Castaways”), featuring Erik Hove on alto saxophone, Nicolas Ferron on guitar and Alain Bourgeois on drums.

About the new album

Naufragés (“Castaways”), the new album which will be released on August 27th 2021 is firmly rooted in jazz presents a mix of five original compositions as well as three covers that reflect Alex’s contemporary aesthetic and visceral tone. After many failed attempts at scheduling the recording due to the various strict lockdown measures brought upon by the COVID 19 pandemic, the group finally managed to get together at Montreal’s Studio Madame Wood on April 5th 2021. Recorded over the course of two spontaneous sets of music, the listener can feel the urgency and sheer joy erupting out of Alex and his bandmates Erik Hove, alto saxophone, Nicolas Ferron on guitar and Alain Bourgeois on drums. The session was recorded and mixed by Simon l’Espérance and was mastered by Alex himself.

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Tags

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Radio & Podcasts

A Selection Of Brand New Releases

Read "A Selection Of Brand New Releases" reviewed by Bob Osborne


On this week's show a broad range of new music from Ashley Summers, Jessica Ackerley and Daniel Carter, Matthew Golombisky's Cuentos, Rodrigo Faina and Change Ensemble, Tony Malaby, and Luis Vicente and Vasco Trilla. And kicking off with another new release from Alex Lefaivre.Playlist Alex Lefaivre “Boiler Room" from Naufragés (Arté Boréal) 00:00r Ashley Summers “King of Swords" from True North (ears&eyes) 08:55r Jessica Ackerley and Daniel Carter “Converging" from Friendship: Lucid Shared Dreams and Time Travel (577 ...

2
Album Review

Alex Lefaivre: YUL

Read "YUL" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Surely this isn't a Christmas recording released at the height of summer, you ask? Not a homage to the great Yul Brynner either? No, the title in question is less obvious and thankfully more interesting than that. Its appeal is a subtle kind, which is well suited to Alex LeFaivre's supportive sensibility as bassist. His strengths lie mainly in ideas, sketching out mood-evoking compositions, choosing effective bandmates and holding it all together at the center--not that he isn't also capable ...

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Album Review

Alex Lefaivre Quartet: YUL

Read "YUL" reviewed by Anya Wassenberg


Bassist and composer Alex Lefaivre's YUL is named after the airport code for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, Canada, and the liner notes say the release was inspired by his home town and its cosmopolitan vibe. Like the fun-loving city, the album's sound is contemporary and imaginative. YUL is characterized by creative musical chops and a strong sense of composition that create a narrative out of each song. It's contemporary jazz with a few unexpected ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five with Alex Lefaivre

Read "Take Five with Alex Lefaivre" reviewed by Alex Lefaivre


About Alex Lefaivre Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Alex Lefaivre is a bassist known for his unique artistic voice, virtuosic skill, passionate work ethic and easy going personality. Equally proficient on both the upright and electric bass, he enjoys a busy schedule as a freelancer in a wide variety of musical styles. Alex is also composes to picture, having recently contributed to the score of Tony Speed, a French-Canadian comedy premiering in select theatres and festivals in ...

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Recording

"YUL" By The Alex Lefaivre Quartet Now Available Worldwide

"YUL" By The Alex Lefaivre Quartet Now Available Worldwide

Source: Orange Grove Publicity

Canadian bassist Alex Lefaivre's new album, YUL, is now available worldwide. Having just returned from a cross-country tour of Canadian Jazz Festivals with Parc X Trio, bassist Alex Lefaivre will celebrate his new release with a series of concerts in Montreal this August. The recording is released through Multiple Chord Music (MCM), the label which he founded in 2011 and which is quickly becoming the reference for creative jazz in Montreal, with artists such as Rachel Therrien, RJ Leblanc, Benjamin ...

“Practitioners of an expressive modern jazz, the members of this quartet navigate different signature meters, maintaining typical song structures. The well-established communication among them drives us safely through reliable, engaging soundscapes.” - JazzTrail

“YUL is a cumulative success – reflecting Lefaivre’s mature, cohesive musical vision.” Colin Story, The Whole Note

“In YUL, his compositions make good use of the power of a quartet to create multiple textures and moods, and each instrumentalist is given room to take center stage within a tight and cohesive unit. A variety of approaches and high octane musicianship keep this release fresh and interesting.” Anya Wassenberg, All About Jazz

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Primary Instrument

Bass

Location

Montreal

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Naufragés

Arté Boréal
2021

buy

YUL

Multiple Chord Music (MCM)
2018

buy

Immigrant Song

From: Naufragés
By Alex Lefaivre

Halloween

From: YUL
By Alex Lefaivre

Videos

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