After the passing of Charles Cooper in 2009, and the creation of his own parallel project Sons of Magdalene, American multi-instrumentalist Joshua Eustis is now carrying the Telefon Tel Aviv torch as a solo act. The tour for the album Dreams Are Not Enough marks the return of the former Nine Inch Nails/Puscifer member’s project with this first recording since Immolate Yourself (2009). Released in September 2019 on Ghostly International, this highly anticipated new material doesn’t disappoint in any way. This electronic opus with high-calibre electronics and sumptuous experimental sounds might be worth the decade of waiting. Intensity and emotion will undoubtedly be part of this performance, which underlines the reunion between an artist of great creative sensitivity, and an audience that hardly expected it to happen anymore, especially in such an intimate setting!
Since 2010, Sarahmée has been building her career, refining her art and shaping her persona. Having reached maturity, the butterfly is out of the cocoon! Highly influenced by French soul/R&B/hip hop with her own special touch of Afro-pop, an authentic hyperlink between North American, European and African cultures, the Quebecoise launched the album Irréversible last year, the fruits of which she is currently reaping. The celebrations continue in the east end of Montreal: at the Maison de la culture Maisonneuve, Sarahmée performs with a band and guests. With a warm evening ahead of her, the singer certainly has the necessary authority to crank things up to the desired intensity.
The Gentiane MG Trio was a “Révélation Radio-Canada jazz” for 2018-2019, and recipient of the François-Marcaurelle award from the Guilde des musiciens du Québec. The trio offers a program of original compositions and improvisation imagined here and now, the main material for which is found on the album Eternal Cycle.
MUSICIANS: Gentiane MG (Michaud-Gagnon): piano and compositions Levi Dover : double bass Louis-Vincent Hamel : drums
Pianist, keyboardist, arranger, composer and educator, Josh Rager is a member in good standing of the Montreal jazz community. In 2005, his local career was launched with his selection for the Prix du Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Over the course of his career, Rager has played or recorded with many well-known artists, including Ingrid Jensen, Walt Weiskopf, Donny McCaslin, Joe Morello, Pat LaBarbera, Kevin Dean, Ranee Lee, and Dawn Tyler Watson. He has toured Japan, Europe and North America. This time he’s performing in a classic context: a trio based on the Hammond B3 organ.
MUSICIANS: Josh Rager: organ Carlos Jimenez : guitar Rich Irwin: drums
Under the direction of the excellent French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc (professor at McGill University), this Improvisation Workshop Project brings together musicians from all backgrounds and levels – students and professional musicians, jazz and classical. The purpose is to explore collective improvisation as “improvised chamber music”. Composition, orchestration, musical interpretation and improvisation can thus merge into a coherent and meaningful whole.
Trained notably at McGill University, Nick Di Giovanni is a “classical” jazzman, a proud representative of the guitaristic tradition in jazz, based on melodic articulation and harmony… and rather discreet pedal effects. Not surprisingly, he has played with André White, Kevin Dean, Dave Laing, Alec Walkington, Rémi-Jean Leblanc, Mark Nelson, Chet Doxas, Samuel Blais, Marie-Fatima Rudolf, Alain Bourgeois and Sophie Milman, among others. (Alain Brunet)
MUSICIANS: Nick Di Giovanni: guitar/composer Gentiane MG: piano Mike De Masi: bass Louis-Vincent Hamel: drums
Praised by international critics, Daniil Trifonov, soon to be 29, is one of the most brilliant pianists of his generation and already shares the summit of Russian piano playing with his colleagues Denis Matsuev and Evgeny Kissin. His last visit to the Maison Symphonique, last year, was marked by troubles that forced the cancellation of his show, followed by a magical performance the next day. Daniil Trifonov returns to Montreal with the aura of a great star. He won the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011 and third prize at the 16th Frederic Chopin Piano Competition.
PROGRAM Daniil Trifonov, piano (recital) Scriabin, 8 Etudes Op. 42 Scriabin, Piano sonata No. 9 in F major Op. 68 Beethoven, Piano sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110 Borodine, Petite suite, excerpt (13 min.) Prokofiev, Piano sonata No. 8 in B-flat major, Op. 84
A flamboyant, fierce, independent, authentic African feminist singer who is rooted in both her Wassoulou culture and her globalized vision of culture through her interests in rock, blues and synth-pop, Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara returns for a third show for her Montreal fans, a show worthy of her talent and international renown. Produced in France by Matthieu Chedid (aka M), Fenfo (2019) is undoubtedly her best album, and has been nominated for a Grammy. Needless to say, she’ll be at the top of her game when she touches down in Montreal.
Couteau Music brings together mostly Montreal artists for Domesicle #7, an immersive electro party presented at the SAT. The Fitness and Pony pony up some house music with a rough techno bass and a lo-fi coating. Thomas White enjoys fusing grime, juke and ’90s R&B. The band Ragers rely on a mix of hip hop and space rock interspersed with synths and other instruments played in real time. Singer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer LIA draws inspiration from trip hop and future soul styles to strike a predominantly vocal electronic approach, reminiscent of Banks, Bon Iver or James Blake.
The artists of Level of Detail put forward their common love of visual arts and music. Pat Pom, an artist with a passion for science, computer tech and high mathematics, introduces his new project NestDrop Immersion’s stratagems, custom-designed for the Satosphere. Jason Fletcher will be at his side, as will Sean Caruso. Under the alias C. Cruser in this context, the latter is a multidisciplinary digital artist based in Montreal. Trained in immersive tech at the SAT, he is currently resident VJ at the Satosphere and works in the SAT’s immersion department. Sean Caruso is also the founder of NEST Immersion, shooting with a mobile geodesic dome, and his immersive short films have won international awards.
