Bourgie Hall presents

Rémi Bolduc and Jean-Michel Pilc

Saxophonist Rémi Bolduc and pianist Jean-Michel Pilc invite you to an intimate rendezvous where improvisation and musical exploration will be at the forefront! This pair of outstanding musicians will have free rein to present some of their original compositions, to which they will add several standards by jazz immortals Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Bill Evans.

Rémi Bolduc, saxophone

Playing that is both intense and under control, breathtaking precision, magnetic stage presence, refreshing original compositions: that’s the formidable package offered by Rémi Bolduc, one of Canada’s best jazz saxophonists.

Acclaimed at the most important venues from New York to Paris by way of Geneva, Tokyo and Beijing, Rémi Bolduc captivates the audience with the dazzling virtuosity and stunning maturity that have made him a most accomplished musician.

With his band, the Rémi Bolduc Jazz Ensemble, he composes and plays numbers that convey his formidable energy and spontaneity, allowing his organic sound to breathe freely.

A versatile and dynamic artist, Rémi Bolduc performs regularly with some of our most renowned jazz musicians such as Kenny Werner, Ben Monder, Seamus Blake, Lorraine Desmarais, Vic Vogel, Thom Gossage, Ralph Bowen, Jerry Bergonzi and others. He teaches saxophone, improvisation and ensemble classes at Montreal’s McGill University.

Jean-Michel Pilc, piano

Born in 1960 in Paris, now an American citizen, self-taught pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous jazz giants: Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Rick Margitza, Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett, Lenny White, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Mingus Dynasty & Big Band, Lew Soloff, Richard Bona etc. He has also worked with Harry Belafonte, as his musical director and pianist, and has performed a duet with the legendary opera singer Jessye Norman.

Jean-Michel has also built a strong international reputation as a very unique educator. Between 2006 and 2015, he was a NYU Steinhardt faculty member, giving private lessons (piano and other instruments), ensemble classes and improvisation workshops. He was Co-Director of NYU Summer Jazz Improv Workshop in 2010. Jean-Michel also taught for the New School in NYC, as well as privately.

At the same time, he released a book, It’s About Music – The Art and Heart of Improvisation (Glen Lyon) and an educational video for all instruments, True Jazz Improvisation (JazzHeaven), followed by another video for JazzHeaven, Transcending the Instrument, about piano playing and practicing. All have been praised by his colleagues, and highly influential in the field of jazz education.

Since September 2015, Jean-Michel is an Associate Professor at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal. There, he is teaching jazz, piano, and improvisation (all instruments), and also a Seminar on improvisation in all styles to 30 McGill jazz and classical students. He has acted as Jazz Area Chair between 2016 and 2018.

Jean-Michel is currently working on several Montreal-based projects, as well as on new solo projects and on the “Improvisation Workshop Project,” funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec -Société et Culture (FRQSC). He has released his fourth solo album, “Parallel” (Challenge Records) and gives solo concerts internationally. He also continues to play with NYC-based groups such as Pilc-Moutin-Hoenig and his US Trio with Sam Minaie and Jerad Lippi. He has also been a special guest of the Montreal-based “Orchestre National de Jazz” and a sideman of various Montreal musicians.

Live at Bourgie Hall
May 13, 2021 at 5:30pm
Covid-19 adapted seating plan and measures in effect

Webcast on Saturday, May 15 at 8 pm and available online until May 29, 11 pm

To purchase your Live Bourgie Hall or webcast concert tickets visit: www.mbam.qc.ca/en/bourgie-hall/