Damian Nisenson

Born in Argentina, having spent long years in Israel and Europe, living in Montreal since 2004, Nisenson has dedicated all his life to the active creation of art through different media: music, acting, poetry, painting, photo, video, specializing in the mixing of languages, styles and art forms of divers cultural origins. Diversity is one of the key words in Nisenson's life and artistic practice. He's militancy in favor of the recognition of cultural and ethnic diversity in society has taken him to the presidency of Diversité Artistique Montréal, organization dedicated, precisely to achieve those goals.

Of Jewish origin, his meeting with the re-born klezmer music in the mid '80s was a turning point in his work as composer, he has dedicated the last 20 years to the composition of original music inspired by the Ashkenaz tradition: hassidic, cantorial and klezmer music.

He has recorded 6 CDs with his own compositions, and participated in some 30 other recordings. He has played In Argentina and Europe with musicians of all artistic and cultural horizons: jazz, improvised music, Arab, Indian and African music, tango, salsa, South American folk, rock. Since his arrival in Montreal he has created several groups: Damian Nisenson trio, Damian Nisenson trio + 3, NOZEN, all dedicated to play his music, at the crossroads of the Ashkenaz musical tradition and contemporary jazz. With them Nisenson has participated in number of festivals across Canada, playing regularly in the high places of the jazz scene in Montreal.

Among the artists that invite Nisenson to partipate in their own projects we can name Socalled, Shtreiml, Irem Bekter, Fanfare Pourpour, Ratchet Orchestra, Soraya Benitez, cantor Boaz Davidoff, Simon Radu, Jean-Marc Hébert.

The specialized press has praised Nisenson recordings, his inventiveness and the sensitive way in which he's been able to insert tradition into a modern sound and musical form.

Awards

Nisenson has won the prize “François Marcaurelle”, offerd by the Musicians Gulde for best show at the Off Jazz Festival, Montreal, 2006, and the 1st prize at the Pre-Chateau Music Festival, Buenos Aires, 1988.

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