Francois Carrier

Alto saxophonist and improviser François Carrier have the ability to find the most compatible partners and 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 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 thirty 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. Thus soon, François will release a brand new CD on FMR Records in April 2018 then in 2019 he will concoct a box set of five LPs recorded during the previous tours. His newest releases titled Freedom is the Out of Silence, Beyond Dimensions and Elements on FMR are the subject of several rave reviews. A European tour will be held in May and June 2019. He will also propose his Opera Libre in Montreal, London and St. Petersburg in 2020.

Out Of Silence by Mark Corroto
The Joy of Being by John Sharpe
Freedom is Space for the Spirit by Budd Kopman
The Joy of Being by Budd Kopman
OUTgoing by Budd Kopman
Unknowable by Budd Kopman
iO by Mark Corroto

Multiple Reviews

Album Reviews

Inner Spire by John Eyles
Entrance 3 by Glenn Astarita
Entrance 3 by Mark Corroto
Within by Budd Kopman
Kathmandu by Budd Kopman
Noh by Budd Kopman
Open Spaces by Florence Wetzel
Open Spaces by Budd Kopman
Happening by Budd Kopman
Play by AAJ Staff
Travelling Lights by Jerry D'Souza

Citations/press quotes _______________________________________

« Out of Silence” is the masterpiece of the Carrier-Lambert duo! » Maciej Lewenstein⎪Spain⎪24 Deceber 2018

« The primitivism of the improvisations often alternates with extreme sophistication both feed the music’s dynamic impulse all of which results in a novelty of language that is so impressive it borders on extreme genius. » Raul da Gama⎪jazzdagama⎪August 28, 2018

« Out of Silence (both the track and the disc as a whole) is brave, audacious and sometimes uncomfortably exposing – but it is also joyous and freeing at a deeply profound level

Citations/press quotes _______________________________________

« Out of Silence” is the masterpiece of the Carrier-Lambert duo! » Maciej Lewenstein⎪Spain⎪24 Deceber 2018

« Out of Silence (both the track and the disc as a whole) is brave, audacious and sometimes uncomfortably exposing – but it is also joyous and freeing at a deeply profound level. Only two artists at the peak of their talent, insight and skill could produce a project of such gravitas and complexity. » Lesley Mitchell-Clarke⎪TheWholeNote⎪Mars 28, 2018

« Carrier’s tone is extraordinarily beautiful for a free jazz performance. Such is the imperturbable sound of a self-possessed musician. » Marc Corroto⎪all•about•jazz⎪November 17, 2017

« In sum this is world-class free jazz. You probably owe it to yourself to check it out closely. It is a real kicker! » Greg Edwards⎪gapplegatemusic⎪July 6th 2017

« Mi ripeto: arte musicale astratta allo stato puro. » Ettore Garzia⎪Percosri Musicali ⎪8 Febbraio 2017

« Music made in the moment where time and space have collapsed. Breathtaking. » Budd Kopman⎪all•about•jazz⎪2017-02-02

« Montreal-based musicians alto saxophonist François Carrier and drummer Michel Lambert have played together and been inseparable for so long that their knowledge and understanding of each other’s instincts verge on the telepathic, » John Eyles⎪The Suid’s Ear⎪2016-06-30

« OUTgoing takes the listener to a bevy of new places and showcases an astonishing amount of inventiveness. » Chris Robinson⎪Moment’s Notice, Point of Departure⎪Mars 2016

« Selected in the Alto Saxophone category for the Eight Annual International Critic’s Poll of el intruso » el intruso ⎪January 2016

« un cri d’amour au cosmos, aux mystères de la création, au pur plaisir d’exister » David Cristol ⎪Improjazz 221⎪Janvier 2016

« this is a very impressive piece of music captured for eternity on record and deserves to be heard by all Improvised Music connoisseurs. » Adam Baruch⎪The Soundtrack Of My Life⎪Dec. 17th 2015

« il loro jazz oggi è troppo avanzato rispetto alla media delle proposte canadesi e troppo sbilanciato nella situazione elitaria della nuova musica improvvisativa, elementi che di fatto ne hanno incomprensibilmente bloccato il loro potenziale di espansione conoscitiva. » Ettore Garzia⎪Percosri Musicali ⎪26 Luglio 2015

« The real star here is the music, in all its freedom and beauty. » Stef Gijssels⎪The FreeJazz Collective⎪June 28, 2015

« You can almost hear him listening (if that’s possible). » Mark Corroto⎪All About Jazz ⎪June 26, 2015

« It’s a real dialogue, played with both freedom and focus. » John Fordham⎪The Guardian⎪Thursday 28 May 2015

« … a group that has almost telepathic unity that allows for the use of dynamics that shapes this excellent and exhausting album. » Tim Niland⎪Music and More⎪September 18, 2014

« The trio is a formidable match of like-minded musicians. This is music of great beauty. » Stef Gijssels⎪The FreeJazz Collective⎪September 12, 2014

« Overground to the Vortex documents an intriguingly protean session, inchoate despite the power and lucidity of the player’s individual contributions and their edgy interplay. » Dalston Sounds⎪London⎪June 20, 2014

« This is some free improvisation to define the medium today. This is art! It’s also one of their very best! Listen and be convinced. » Greg Edwards⎪gapplegatemusic⎪July 7, 2014

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