Country : Québec Label : Independant Genres and styles : Jazz / prog Year : 2024

Francis Grégoire – Prologue

· by Frédéric Cardin

Classically trained and jazz pianist Francis Grégoire, who hails from Île d’Orléans and is based in Quebec City, has released his first opus for life, aptly entitled Prologue. One imagines that other chapters will be added one day, which would be desirable. Indeed, Prologue is an excellent jazz album informed by various influences, especially prog rock. Grégoire cites Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree) among his preferred musical sources. To this, for the jazz side of things, I’d add Alain Caron, whose implicit presence hovers over several tracks. The epic Caravan cover would certainly not displease the ex-UZEB. Grégoire also invokes film music in his list of inspirations, which can be detected in the strongly expansive, panoramic character of his compositions (Caravan is the only “cover” on the program). Lots of guitars and post-prog keyboards envelop a general framework in which the drums also manage to pull their weight. This is less true of the strings (Quatuor Créma) who, apart from a few moments revealed here and there, are pretty much left behind by the decibel power generated by their partners. 

Prologue is an energetic, muscular jazz album that is sure to please lovers of electrified music.

A launch concert will be held on October 19 at the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City. No date announced for Montreal, unfortunately. We hope there will be one in the future, to ensure good exposure for this young artist. 

Francis Grégoire: piano, keyboards, sound design

Gabriel Cyr: guitars

Damien-Jade Cyr: saxophones, flute and auxiliary percussion

Carl Mayotte: bass

Stéphane Chamberland: drums

Olivier Bussières: percussion (Aeolus)

Quatuor Crema: Inti Manzi (violin), Jean-Michel Marois (violin), Annie Morrier (viola) and Rachel Baillargeon (cello)

Latest 360 Content

Festival de Lanaudière | Leonardo Garcia Alarcon/Monteverdi’s Coronation of Popea: being marketwise

Festival de Lanaudière | Leonardo Garcia Alarcon/Monteverdi’s Coronation of Popea: being marketwise

FIJM | Nate Smith and his Supremely Talented Quartet

FIJM | Nate Smith and his Supremely Talented Quartet

FIJM | Nai Palm? Creature of Exception! Hawa B? Future Star!

FIJM | Nai Palm? Creature of Exception! Hawa B? Future Star!

FIJM 2025 | Funky funky, Trombone Shorty

FIJM 2025 | Funky funky, Trombone Shorty

FIJM | Nubya Garcia Becomes a Star in MTL

FIJM | Nubya Garcia Becomes a Star in MTL

FIJM 2025 | Symphonic Avishai Cohen: Bewitching magic

FIJM 2025 | Symphonic Avishai Cohen: Bewitching magic

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Phantom Island

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Phantom Island

Common Holly – Anything glass

Common Holly – Anything glass

FIJM I Hanorah Sets the TD Stage Ablaze with Soulful R&B

FIJM I Hanorah Sets the TD Stage Ablaze with Soulful R&B

FIJM | Jeff Goldblum: Storyteller, Comedian and Pianist, 3 in 1

FIJM | Jeff Goldblum: Storyteller, Comedian and Pianist, 3 in 1

FIJM I Still Taking Us There, Mavis Staples Electrifies Montreal JazzFest

FIJM I Still Taking Us There, Mavis Staples Electrifies Montreal JazzFest

FIJM | Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – Ventre Unique

FIJM | Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – Ventre Unique

Fantastic Negrito – Son of A Broken Man

Fantastic Negrito – Son of A Broken Man

Cumbia, Chaos, and Resistance: Empanadas Illegales Bring the Heat to Montreal Jazz Fest

Cumbia, Chaos, and Resistance: Empanadas Illegales Bring the Heat to Montreal Jazz Fest

Turnstile – Never Enough

Turnstile – Never Enough

FIJM | Meggie Lennon and The Desire Days Story

FIJM | Meggie Lennon and The Desire Days Story

FIJM | Dianne Reeves and Romero Lubambo: An Intimate Duo of Virtuosos

FIJM | Dianne Reeves and Romero Lubambo: An Intimate Duo of Virtuosos

FIJM | Brandon Woody’s Upendo: Baltimore Represents !

FIJM | Brandon Woody’s Upendo: Baltimore Represents !

FIJM | Stella Cole: From Tik Tok to The Biggest Jazz Stages

FIJM | Stella Cole: From Tik Tok to The Biggest Jazz Stages

ALICE on Her X

ALICE on Her X

FIJM  | Samara Joy: Pushing Classic Vocal Jazz Repertoire to its Limits

FIJM | Samara Joy: Pushing Classic Vocal Jazz Repertoire to its Limits

FIJM | Nas symphonic and Nas not symphonic

FIJM | Nas symphonic and Nas not symphonic

Suoni | The Jellicle KIKI Ball #2 – Feline Grace is Served

Suoni | The Jellicle KIKI Ball #2 – Feline Grace is Served

Suoni | The Dark, Wicked, Warm and Absurd on the Same Dish

Suoni | The Dark, Wicked, Warm and Absurd on the Same Dish

Subscribe to our newsletter