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Jean-Michel Pilc

Born in 1960 in Paris, now an American citizen, self-taught pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous jazz giants: Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Rick Margitza, Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett, Lenny White, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Mingus Dynasty & Big Band, Lew Soloff, Richard Bona etc. He has also worked with Harry Belafonte, as his musical director and pianist, and has performed a duet with the legendary opera singer Jessye Norman.

Jean-Michel moved to New York City in 1995. There, he formed a trio with François Moutin (bass) and Ari Hoenig (drums). They recorded a one-week engagement at the legendary jazz club Sweet Basil and, in 2000, released two CDs: Together - Live at Sweet Basil, NYC - Vol. 1 & 2 (A-Records). Pilc then signed a record deal with Dreyfus Jazz. His first album for Dreyfus, Welcome Home (featuring the same trio), was released in 2002. Jean-Michel's next recording, Cardinal Points, was released the following year. It featured his extended work Trio Sonata, created with generous support from Chamber Music America New Works: Creation and Presentation Program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

In 2004, Jean-Michel released his first solo album, Follow Me (Dreyfus). Then he returned to trio format to record Live at Iridium, NYC, in 2004, New Dreams in 2006, and True Story in 2009 (featuring Billy Hart). This was also a period of intensive touring all over the world.

In 2009, Jean-Michel received his second New Works Grant from Chamber Music America, for the writing and performance of Modern Lights, a composition reflecting Charlie Chaplin’s work, and the inspiration Jean-Michel has gained from his movies. The project was premiered at the Caramoor Jazz Festival in August 2009.

Jean-Michel’s next two albums were both released in 2011 on the Motema label to great critical acclaim: Essential, a live solo piano recording, and Threedom, featuring his legendary trio with François Moutin & Ari Hoenig, which had re-formed in 2010 under the collective name Pilc Moutin Hoenig. There is also a documentary out by John McCormick titled Jean-Michel Pilc – A Portrait (2009, Living Jazz Archive).

In 2013, Jean-Michel was granted a Fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, in the Music Composition category. The project was an octet, Big One, featuring all new original music.

In 2015, Jean-Michel released What Is This Thing Called? his third solo album and first release for Sunnyside. Jean-Michel is also a virtuoso whistler, as documented on a solo piano & whistle track in the CD Christmas from the Blue Note (2010, Half Note).

Always a busy performer, Jean-Michel has been very active in 2013-2016 as a leader, performing mainly solo and trio, and touring many places including Japan, Taiwan, Europe, USA and Canada. He has also been in high demand as a co-leader and sideman, participating in numerous projects over the world and recording more than 10 CDs. Among these projects and recordings: duos with Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, Sylvain Luc and the legendary Martial Solal, trio with Thomas Bramerie & André Ceccarelli Twenty, guitarist Teriver Cheung Hong Kong Episodes, Greek bass player Petros Klampanis Contextual, NYC drummer Tony Moreno Short Stories, Moutin Reunion Quintet Deep, Brazilian guitarist Fabio Gouvea, Dutch bassist Jasper Somsen, Danish bassist Mads Vinding, and many others.

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Album Review

Sam Newsome, Jean-Michel Pilc: Cosmic Unconsciousness Unplugged

Read "Cosmic Unconsciousness Unplugged" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Talentuosissimi strumentisti ed eccellenti improvvisatori, Sam Newsome e Jean-Michel Pil tornano a registrare assieme a sei anni di distanza dal loro Magic Circle. E lo fanno con lo stesso spirito, cioè andando in studio senza scalette o programmi predefiniti, fidandosi dell'intesa consolidata e delle comuni preferenze, per snocciolare una serie di improvvisazioni alternate a storici standard, il tutto interpretato in modo estremamente personale anche grazie all'uso di “preparazioni" sui rispettivi strumenti. Quest'ultimo aspetto del lavoro viene valorizzato fin ...

2
Album Review

JD Walter: What the World Needs Now

Read "What the World Needs Now" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


JD Walter beckons listeners into a soulful and captivating journey through modern jazz interpretations of non-jazz material. With his unique vocal stylings and innovative arrangements, he brings a fresh perspective to familiar popular tunes, and several jazz standards, while delivering thought-provoking original compositions. From the very first track--Stevie Wonder's “Golden Lady"--it is evident that Walter's vocal prowess is a force to be reckoned with. He dashes along in full flight and then effortlessly shifts into intricate ...

4
Album Review

Jean-Michel Pilc: Symphony

Read "Symphony" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


On November 28, 2021, at the completion of a two-day recording session for Galician saxophonist Xose Miguélez's Contradictio (Origin, 2022) at CARA-OJM Studios in Matosinhos, Portugal, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc had a little time on his hands. And with a gorgeous Steinway right in front of him, beautiful acoustics in the room and engineer José Trincado at the ready to record, it proved to be the perfect opportunity to explore the moment. The result, a stunning statement on subliminal complexities and ...

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Album Review

Xose Miguélez: Contradictio

Read "Contradictio" reviewed by Jane Kozhevnikova


After an album of Spanish-flavored original tunes, Ontology (Origin Records, 2019), Galicia-based saxophone Xose Miguélez releases Contradictio. Alongside Miguélez, the album features Jean-Michel Pilc on piano, Carlos Barretto on bass and Marcos Cavaleiro on drums. Both Miguélez and Pilc are listed as the album producers. The forceful energy of this great French pianist comes out in every tune. Unlike Ontology, Contradictio includes several jazz standards. “You and the Night and the Music," written by Arthur Schwartz, starts ...

7
Album Review

Xose Miguelez: Contradictio

Read "Contradictio" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Galician composer and saxophonist Xose Miguelez has established himself as a mainstay of the international jazz scene. His superb second release as leader, Contradictio, showcases his talents to the full. A taut quartet session, it consists of inventive originals and clever arrangements of standards. Well- versed in bop and his own ethnic music, Miguelez excitingly fuses both traditions. The warm, tense opener “Meniña" starts with bassist Carlos Barretto's dramatic refrains. Once the ensemble launches into the main theme ...

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Album Review

JD Walter: Dressed in a Song

Read "Dressed in a Song" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer


JD Walter is a consummate vocalist who has devoted himself over many years to evolving a unique style that is nevertheless ensconced in the jazz tradition. The public relations sheet for this new CD states that “this is his first release since recovering from a life-threatening heart condition and surgeries on his heart and vocal cords." It states that this is a “comeback" record. That is a misnomer. In this recording, he takes the music to new levels of structure, ...

2
Album Review

Jean-Michel Pilc: What Is This Thing Called?

Read "What Is This Thing Called?" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo


Pochi altri pianisti jazz riescono come Jean-Michel Pilc ad unire vibrante espressività, magistero tecnico e volatile progettualità. Lo dimostra questo CD imperniato sulla variazione/destrutturazione del celebre standard “What Is This Called Love." Il tema di Cole Porter diventa così il pretesto per una rigogliosa cavalcata in solitudine, tra le mille pieghe del pianoforte jazz e non. I trenta bozzetti musicali proposti rivelano una mente aperta nello sciorinare con souplesse interpretativa un pensiero pianistico trasversale che tocca vari ...

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Interview

Jean-Michel Pilc: Room to improv

Jean-Michel Pilc: Room to improv

Source: Michael Ricci

Virtuosic pianist Jean-Michel Pilc finds success by following intuition Mathematics and music are often seen as complementary fields, realms governed by beautifully confluent systems of logic. But for Jean-Michel Pilc--an aerospace engineer by training and jazz pianist by calling--music exists in a universe apart, where intuitive communion on the bandstand transcends the left-brain's dominion. Self-taught and resistant to theory, Pilc has developed a coruscatingly melodic approach inspired by his formative musical exposure, listening to jazz records as a 7-year-old, memorizing ...

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Recording

Dreyfus Jazz (USA) Presents the European Modernists: Jean-Michel Pilc, Aldo Romano, Rosario Giuliani and Philip Catherine

Dreyfus Jazz (USA) Presents the European Modernists: Jean-Michel Pilc, Aldo Romano, Rosario Giuliani and Philip Catherine

Source: Michael Ricci

Jazz, once a singularly American invention and one of the United States' greatest exports, has become a truly international phenomenon, with important players from all over the world making valuable contributions to the music's evolution. Europe, previously home to many of the most devoted connoisseurs of the art form, is now also the producer of some of the most innovative voices in jazz. With the inauguration of its European Modernists series Dreyfus Jazz is proud to bring U.S. audiences some ...

144

Recording

Jean-Michel Pilc Trio - 'True Story' CD Release Performance at the Iridium in NYC Wednesday May 26th, 2010.

Jean-Michel Pilc Trio - 'True Story' CD Release Performance at the Iridium in NYC Wednesday May 26th, 2010.

Source: Two for the Show Media

Jean-Michel Pilc Trio - 'True Story' CD Release

May 26th, 2010 - 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM

Jean-Michel Pilc, piano / Boris Kozlov, bass / Billy Hart, drums

“a musical genius at work." -Eric Brace, The Washington Post

“Pilc ranks among today's titans of the instrument" -Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

“Mr Pilc seems to have dropped from the sky fully formed, with technique and his ideas in place. He is a physical and densely harmonic player, a splashy stunner who ...

102

Recording

Dreyfus Jazz Presents European Modernists: Jean-Michel Pilc Tour

Dreyfus Jazz Presents European Modernists: Jean-Michel Pilc Tour

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Jean-Michel PILC 'True Story' (DRY CD 36950) Street Date April 20, 2010 Aldo Romano 'Origine' (DRY CD 36947) Street Date April 20, 2010 Rosario Giuliani 'Lennie's Pennies' (DRY CD 36952) Street Date April 20, 2010 Philip Catherine 'Capbreton' (DRY CD 36941) Street Date May 18, 2010 Jazz, once a singularly American invention and one of the United States' greatest exports, has become a truly international phenomenon, with important players from all over ...

258

Recording

Jean-Michel Pilc - True Story (Dreyfus)

Jean-Michel Pilc - True Story (Dreyfus)

Source: Master of a Small House

Possessing a technique suggestive of years of rigorous training, French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc is actually an autodidact. His self-honed skills at the keyboard are immediately impressive and evince Bill Evans impressionism by way of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. His left hand is very nearly as mighty and variable as his right allowing for overlapping runs of dizzying density and detail. Free playing in systemic manners akin to Michel Pettruciani and early Cecil Taylor also falls with in the scope ...

147

Recording

Pianist/Composer Jean-Michel Pilc Releases New CD Titled "True Story" on Dreyfus Jazz

Pianist/Composer Jean-Michel Pilc Releases New CD Titled "True Story" on Dreyfus Jazz

Source: Two for the Show Media

Pianist/Composer Jean-Michel Pilc releases new CD Titled “True Story" on Dreyfus Jazz

“Music is the universe once again" --Schopenhauer

Music speaks better than words - but sometimes words, such as Schopenhauer's here can catch the magic which makes this art form so unique. And magic is the word for Jean-Michel's new trio. Three painters and storytellers who mesmerize their audiences with something that goes far beyond notes and craft. We won't attempt to define that “something." It must be heard ...

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Performance / Tour

JD Walter & Jean-Michel Pilc Duo Friday August 3rd at the the Jazz Gallery 9 & 10:30 P.M.

JD Walter & Jean-Michel Pilc Duo Friday August  3rd at the the Jazz Gallery  9 & 10:30 P.M.

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

The Jazz Gallery An International Jazz Cultural Center 290 Hudson Street New York, NY 10013 Tel: 212-242-1063 Friday August 3rd 2007 Friday, August 3rd: 9 & 10:30 p.m. ($15) JD Walter & Jean-Michel Pilc Duo JD Walter is one of the most compelling and original male jazz vocalists on the scene. Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc is “a physical and densely harmonic player, a splashy stunner who also has a ...

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Performance / Tour

Jean-Michel Pilc at the Iridium Jazz Club Oct. 19

Jean-Michel Pilc at the Iridium Jazz Club Oct. 19

Source: All About Jazz


"His densely harmonic reinventions of standards you thought you knew clearly shows a musical genius at work." Eric Brace, The Washington Post "There may be no more diverse, unpredictable jazz piano player, song to song, than Jean-Michel Pilc." Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes "A dazzlingly inventive pianist." Nate Chinen, The New York Times "Jean-Michel Pilc belongs right in the front row." John Fordham, Guardian Unlimited (UK, **** review) “One of the astounding jazz piano trios of the past decade.” Don Williamson, Jazz Review "Mr Pilc seems to have dropped from the sky fully formed, with technique and his ideas in place

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Montreal

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Jean-Michel has also built a strong international reputation as a very unique educator. Between 2006 and 2015, he was a NYU Steinhardt faculty member, giving private lessons (piano and other instruments), ensemble classes and improvisation workshops. He was Co-Director of NYU Summer Jazz Improv Workshop in 2010. Jean-Michel also taught for the New School in NYC, as well as privately. At the same time, he released a book, It's About Music - The Art and Heart of Improvisation (Glen Lyon) and an educational video for all instruments, True Jazz Improvisation (JazzHeaven), followed by another video for JazzHeaven, Transcending the Instrument, about piano playing and practicing. All have been praised by his colleagues, and highly influential in the field of jazz education. Since September 2015, Jean-Michel is an Associate Professor at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal. There, he is teaching jazz, piano, and improvisation (all instruments), and also a Seminar on improvisation in all styles to 30 McGill jazz and classical students. He has acted as Jazz Area Chair between 2016 and 2018. Jean-Michel also keeps releasing pedagogical material, including 2 video masterclasses on Improvisational Fluency for MyMusicMasterclass.com, as well as a masterclass in French, Anatomie d'un standard, for iMusic School.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Symphony

Justin Time Records
2023

buy

YOU Are The Song

Justin Time Records
2023

buy

What the World Needs...

Arkadia Records
2023

buy

Cosmic...

Self Produced
2023

buy

Contradictio

Origin Records
2022

buy

Dressed in a Song

JWAL Records
2020

buy

Straight No Chaser

From: YOU Are The Song
By Jean-Michel Pilc

Meniña

From: Contradictio
By Jean-Michel Pilc

Videos

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