Additional Information
Rachel Therrien, a trumpeter and flugelhorn player from Quebec, is a constant presence at the 2026 FIJM. Here is the final part of the interview she gave to our contributor Michel Labrecque.
PAN M 360: Following your concert with the all-female supergroup Ostara and your appearance in the “Jazz Composers” series at the L’Entracte cabaret, you will be presenting your own show at the FIJM on July 3.
Rachel Therrien: Yes, it will be at the Molson Pub (free concert), at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., with my Latin jazz project, where we’ll be performing songs from two albums, Mi Hogar 1 and 2, with Cuban and Latin musicians from Montreal. We’ll also be at the Théâtre de Verdure in Lafontaine Park on August 7, with a larger band.
PAN M 360: As a reminder, the first installment was released in 2023, and the second came out last year. Moving on from the Jazz Festival, you’ve also released two albums featuring duets with the Catalan-New York pianist Alberto Marquez.
Rachel Therrien: He’s an old friend who arrived in New York at the same time I did. We decided to record eight sessions over the course of a year. We wanted to take the time to experiment, just like in the days of Miles Davis in the early ’60s.
PAN M 360: The result was two very different albums: the first flirts with free jazz, while the second features more traditional standards.
Rachel Therrien: Exactly, it was the first time I’d recorded standards. But if you listen, you’ll hear that Alberto and I took some liberties. These two albums were released in very limited editions; we really put our hearts and souls into them. And I’m very happy with the result.
PAN M 360: I get the feeling you’re already working on other projects, knowing how insatiably curious you are…
Rachel Therrien: Actually, I just got back from Tunisia, where I launched a project with pianist Omar El Ouarer and a young oud player named Rhaia. We recorded a live album and are working on a tour. We’re blending Omar’s compositions with my own. I love doing this kind of ethnomusicological research, just as I did in Colombia a few years ago.
PAN M 360: You lived in New York for many years, but things have changed now, haven’t they?
Rachel Therrien: I have a Cuban partner, and I have a strong connection to that country, where I attended university. That connection has forced me to take a break from New York, given the current political climate in the United States. Right now, I’m splitting my time between Havana and Montreal. I’ll be focusing on Canada, Europe, and Latin America. We’ll see what happens later…
PAN M 360: Comment vivez-vous la catastrophe économique et les grandes pénuriesHow are you coping with the economic crisis and severe shortages in Cuba? à Cuba?
Rachel Therrien: It’s incredibly difficult and infinitely sad. At the same time, people are so resilient. There’s always plenty of music. I started a brass band with Cuban women. I’m trying to raise money for my loved ones there. People are trying to survive as best they can. I encourage Quebecers to help them.
