Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal presents

Percussionist Marie-Josée Simard

For its last concert of 2021, under the direction of Jean-Nicolas Trottier, the Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal is pleased to present percussionist Marie-Josée Simard in the creation of a three-movement concerto that she commissioned to be written by three renowned jazz composers and arrangers: Christine Jensen, Marianne Trudel and Jean Nicolas Trottier.

In 40 years, Marie-Josée Simard has premiered 13 concertos for marimba and vibraphone with renowned symphony and string orchestras. In 2019, the idea came to her to create a 14th concerto with the Orchestre national de jazz by calling upon these Quebec composers, experienced in writing for both large jazz and symphonic ensembles.

The first movement: Delta Variations by Christine Jensen, will set the tone and sound the starting signal for the work.
The second movement: De résonances et d’échos by Marianne Trudel, will continue with bewitching sounds of vibraphone and crotales played with a bow.
The third movement: Spirales by Jean-Nicolas Trottier, completes the concerto by leading the listener through a subtle rhythmic pattern that allows the soloist to shine.

Works by Mike Mainieri and Frank Zappa will complete this colorful program.

Artists
Marie-Josée Simard, Marimba and vibraphone

Marie Josée Simard has been recognized as a virtuoso and an exceptional interpreter of percussion instruments. In this regard, this great artist has built a reputation for musical excellence on the national and international stage for over 38 years, and her music—as a soloist—has been heard in a great number of concerts held in countries such as Canada, Mexico, France, Poland and Belgium, Japan, as well as during tours in Korea and China.

From 1991 to 1996, she was the percussionist for the contemporary ensemble Bradyworks, with the composer and guitarist Tim Brady who together played over forty concerts across Canada.

As a soloist, in May 2010, she played 3 Jazettes concertantes by François Bourassa for vibraphone and marimba with the Symphony Orchestra of Trois-Rivières, and again on May 10th, 2012 with the Orchestre Métropolitain of Montreal.

Simard recently added another string to her bow when she took an exciting foray into the world of Jazz by initiating the trio En trois couleurs that united her with the great pianists and jazz composers François Bourassa and Yves Léveillé, after they opened the Jazz en Rafale festival in 2014. This new trio was awarded an Opus Prize in 2013, for concert of the year—in Jazz!

Jean-Nicolas Trottier, conductor
Saxophones: Jean-Pierre Zanella, Allison Burik, Annie Dominique, Frank Lozano, Samuel Blais
Trumpets: Dominic Rossi, Aron Doyle, Lex French, Bill Mahar
Trombones: Dave Grott, Modibo Keita, Taylor Donaldson, Robert Ellis
Guitar: Ananda X. Suddath
Piano: Marianne Trudel
Double Bass: Rémi-Jean LeBlanc
Drums: Kevin Warren

Live concert at the Cinquième Salle  – Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 8:00pm
Live webcast – Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 8:00pm
On Demand webcast – From December 15-19, 2021

To purchase your tickets to the live concert, live webcast or on demand webcast, visit: www.placedesarts.com