Festival international de Jazz de Montréal presents

Yannick Rieu – John Coltrane, The Lost Album

As part of the Jazz Festival, Yannick Rieu will interpret, in an unprecedented concert, pieces of Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album, an opus found in the archives of the legendary John Coltrane. Recognized as one of Canada’s most talented saxophonists, the composer and saxophonist has performed around the world, garnering prizes and acclaim for both his recordings and live performances.

After studying at the conservatoires of Rennes (France), Chicoutimi, Quebec City, and Montreal, Yannick Rieu embarked on an intense and solitary musical exploration that lasted four years. From 1980 to 1984, he polished his style in various jazz clubs in Saguenay, Quebec City regions and studied in France with Jean-Louis Chautemps and Réne Urtreger. In 1984, he made his professional debut on the effervescent Montreal music scene. After working with band leader and pianist Vic Vogel, with drummers Bernard Primeau and Guy Nadon, and especially, with pianist Jean Beaudet, he quickly gained a reputation as an intense musician who wielded his art without compromise.

In 1988, Down Beat magazine rated Rieu as one of the twenty most promising saxophonist in the world, alongside the likes of  Branford  Marsalis, Joe Lovano, and Courtney Pine.

In 1992, he recorded his first CD of his own compositions, with some jazz standards included as points of reference. In the Myth was the culmination of two years of free exploration at Montreal’s Café Central with a trio that included Michel Ratté on drums, Normand Guilbeault on bass, and guest pianist Paul Bley. “Playing that is at times powerfully lyrical and at others, rebellious. A  surprisingly mature first album.” Voir, Montreal.

His second disc, Sweet Geom, was recorded live at the Victoriaville new music festival with bassist Frédéric Alarie and drummer Paul Léger in 1994. The recording features his own compositions and a performance of Sonny Rollins’s “Freedom Suite.” “Yannick Rieu combines honest statement and tender delivery in a truly original manner; he plays with the instrument’s breathy and rough textures, going from murmur to outburst, from reserved to talkative. In this concert, Rieu expresses a joy for saying what deserves to be said and saying it well.” Jazz Magazine, Paris.“ A universe that is flamboyant, rich and promising.” Le Devoir, Montreal

In 1995, Rieu came out with his third album, What is the colour of love, featuring a quartet that included Laurent Fickelson on piano, Philippe Soirat on drums, and Frédéric Alarie on bass. This CD won the 1996 ADISQ Félix award for Quebec jazz album of the year.

For information and tickets: www.placedesarts.com  514-842-2112 or 1-866-842-2112