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François Carrier

Alto saxophonist and improviser François Carrier is definitely going his own way. Carrier singular vision has led him to maintain a wide recorded presence all over the world. His rich, deep playing that blends lyricism with boldness and a sense of surpassing one’s self has earned him a place in the Annual International Critic’s Poll of El Intruso of El Intruso 2018, 2017 as well as 2015 and in the DownBeat’s 2013 Best Alto Sax Players List.

In 2001 he won a Juno Award in the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category for his third album Compassion (Naxos Jazz).

To date, François combines an impressive discography of over 35 internationally acclaimed albums with legendary musicians such as Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, Bobo Stenson, Tomasz Stanko, Uri Caine, Jason Moran, Dewey Redman, Mat Maneri, Sonny Greenwich, Jean-Jacques Avenel, John Edwards, Steve Beresford, Rafal Mazur, etc. Drummer Michel Lambert has been his most faithful collaborator. Together, Michel and François undertook several tours in Europe, Asia and Canada.

His six-month residencies in Rome 2002 and London 2011 allowed him to pursue research and exploration work as a saxophonist composer and he also created bonds with musical circles. Among other things, he composed his Free Opera and organised a good number of recording sessions with several European musicians.

In 2005 he was spotted by British label Leo Records with whom he released five unique albums. Several European avant-garde music labels then join the party such as Creative Sources (Portugal), Ayler Records (Sweden-France), FMR Records (England), Not Two Records (Poland). Following the major international media coverage, the demands keep multiplying.

His recent albums “Elements” and “WIDE” on FMR Records, and NIRGUNA on the Polish label Fundacja Słuchaj have been the subject of several rave reviews.

A new CD titled JAPAN SUITE recorded Live in Japan on December 7, 2019 with Masayo Koketsu, Daisuke Fuwa and Itani Takashi was recently released on NoBusiness Records. A Japanese and European tour is due in 2021. Francois’ Trio will participate in the Jazzahead of Bremen in Germany on April 29, 2021.

Let’s see what the future holds!

Awards

- El Intruso International Critic’s Poll, Best Alto Saxophone (2018) - El Intruso International Critic’s Poll, Best Alto Saxophone (2017) - El Intruso International Critic’s Poll, Best Alto Saxophone (2015) - DOWNBEAT Readers’ Poll, Best Alto Saxophone (2013) - Album « Compassion » Gagnant du Juno Award / Catégorie Jazz contemporain (2001) - Album « Intuition » - En nomination à l’ADISQ / Album jazz de l’année (1998) - Nomination au Gala des Prix d’Excellence des Arts et de la Culture de Québec (1996)


Tags

20
Album Review

Francois Carrier Ensemble featuring Mat Maneri /Tomasz Stańko / Gary Peacock / Michel Lambert: Openness

Read "Openness" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Openness waited nearly two decades on a shelf (ok, probably on a hard drive) before being released for our listening pleasure. Recorded on May 5 & 6, 2006 at the Théâtre La Chapelle in Montréal, Canada, these three precious discs document a meeting between Canadian saxophonist François Carrier and Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko. It is the Polish label Fundacja Sluchaj to thank for this release and the prior disc Unwalled (2022), with Carrier being joined by Alexander von Schlippenbach, John ...

8
Album Review

François Carrier/Alexander von Schlippenbach/John Edwards/Michel Lambert: Unwalled

Read "Unwalled" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Don't you love it when a plan comes together? Even if the plan is totally improvised, as is that of Unwalled. The album is the first meeting between Canadian alto saxophonist François Carrier and German-born pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach. The free jazz pioneer Schlippenbach was the founder of the Globe Unity Orchestra back in 1966, and it featured Peter Brötzmann, Peter Kowald, Han Bennink, Derek Bailey, Paul Lovens and Evan Parker, to name just a few of the future legends ...

3
Album Review

Francois Carrier: Glow

Read "Glow" reviewed by John Eyles


As is true of countless other players, the output of French-Canadian saxophonist Francois Carrier took a nosedive after the arrival of covid-19 and lockdown. Where he had been averaging two album releases a year, Glow is his first release since Japan Suite (NoBusiness) which was released eighteen months before, in May 2020. In addition, Carrier's globe-trotting tours—the source of a steady stream of live albums (his last studio-recorded album having been Being With, released on Leo in 2010, and recorded ...

5
Album Review

Francois Carrier: Japan Suite

Read "Japan Suite" reviewed by John Sharpe


Canadian alto saxophonist François Carrier frequently travels light. Even more so on this occasion as his regular peripatetic partner drummer Michel Lambert was not on board for a 2019 tour of Japan. This 78-minute album presents a first-time meeting with a group of Japanese improvisers, comprising bassist Daisuke Fuwa founder of the Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra, with a discography of 18 releases, fellow alto saxophonist Masayo Koketsu, also an alum of Fuwa's outfit, and drummer Takashi Itani, who has appeared alongside ...

3
Album Review

Francois Carrier: Out Of Silence

Read "Out Of Silence" reviewed by Mark Corroto


There is this phenomena that is becoming apparent (at least to me) in the music of free jazz musicians. It is a deep-rooted insecurity. First I thought it was a component of the music, a certain stability in instability. But spinning the latest release from saxophonist François Carrier and drummer Michel Lambert, one gets the sense that fully developed, mature musicians can perform free jazz at its highest level without all the anxiety. Such is apparent with Out ...

7
Album Review

Francois Carrier: The Joy of Being

Read "The Joy of Being" reviewed by John Sharpe


Canadian reedman Francois Carrier and drummer Michel Lambert enjoy a fertile alliance. They first met back in 1998, when they invited the great Dewey Redman to join them. Since then they've waxed no fewer than 12 discs either in duet or together with other guests and collaborators. On The Joy Of Being they team up with Polish bassist Rafal Mazur, for the second time after Unknowable (NotTwo, 2016), in a live date from the esteemed Alchemia Club in Krakow. Together ...

6
Album Review

Francois Carrier: Freedom is Space for the Spirit

Read "Freedom is Space for the Spirit" reviewed by Budd Kopman


Saxophonist Francois Carrier had quite a week in late May of 2014. It began when he and his long-time percussionist Michel Lambert played with bassist John Edwards and pianist Steve Beresford at the Vortex Jazz Club in London on May 25th and ended with the duo performing with acoustic bassist Rafal Mazur at the Alchemia Jazz Klub in Krakow, Poland on June 1st and then recording the following day. Sandwiched between London and Krakow was a trip to ...

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89

Recording

Francois Carrier Trio Blazes It up on "Inner Spire"

Francois Carrier Trio Blazes It up on "Inner Spire"

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

Francois Carrier, alto, Alexey Lapin, piano, and Michel Lambert, drums, show you what they are made of on Inner Spire (Leo 601). It is NOT sugar and spice, and everything nice. It's fire, power, the flames of focused heavy hitting, free music of the extroverted, get-it-all-out sort. They are live in Moscow, last December 2010. And they are afire with no hook and ladder in sight. Not to be flip though. This is inspired wailing. At times they sound like ...

118

Recording

Francois Carrier Trio + 1 with Bobo Stenson, "Entrance 3", Entrances

Francois Carrier Trio + 1 with Bobo Stenson, "Entrance 3", Entrances

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

Francois Carrier has style. He keeps a balance between sound, linear content and expressivity in ways that are original and enlivening. When he gathered his alto, his trio and guest Bobo Stenson on piano at the Vancouver Jazz Fest in 2002, there was some magic in the air. It's captured on Entrance 3 (Ayler 106) and captured well. One thing, at least, is clear. Francois Carrier needs to be paid more attention. This is a freely expansive set of extended ...

134

Recording

Francois Carrier - Entrance 3 (Ayler, 2011) ****

Francois Carrier - Entrance 3 (Ayler, 2011) ****

Source: Free Jazz by Stef Gijssels

By Stef What fun good jazz can be! This is among the best, enjoyable and joyful post-bop music I've heard in a while. Canadian altoist François Carrier is accompanied by his usual companions Pierre Coté on bass and Michel Lambert on drums, with the great Bobo Stenson on piano for a live tour of Europe that took place in 2002. Carrier's tone—as said before—is warm and sensual, his playing is expansive and lyrical, and the music is strongly indebted to ...

Citations/press quotes _______________________________________

« – The music is exploratory and continuously evolving as it proceeds, successfully accomplishing its purpose » Music and More⎪USA⎪March 09, 2020

« – they’re demonstrating an innovative point of view, masterful virtuosity, splendid playing technique and exclusive musical language. This album is another one great example of collaboration between four impressive jazz masters. » AvantScena⎪USA⎪August 28, 2019

« The elements exposed throughout are high quality musicianship coupled with limitless inspiration. » Ken Waxman⎪JazzWord⎪August 23, 2019

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Primary Instrument

Saxophone, alto

Location

Montreal

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Free Melodic Improvisation

Clinic/Workshop Information

Workshop / Conference The Zen in the Art of Improvisation

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Unwalled

Fundacja Sluchaj
2023

buy

Openness

Fundacja Sluchaj
2023

buy

Glow

FMR Records
2021

buy

WIDE

FMR Records
2020

buy

Japan Suite

NoBusiness Records
2020

buy

Elements

FMR Records
2019

buy

Himalayan Beauty

From: Kathmandu
By François Carrier

Videos

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