A concert where modern jazz under all its forms juxtaposes to a colourful string quartet, a fusion of classical music, post-impressionist and jazz…with François Richard Quartet, Stéphane Allard String Quartet and Yannick Rieu on saxophone, a disconcerting ensemble, romantic and 100% original.

The concept was introduced twice. First at Salle du GESÙ in Montreal and then recorded in studio 12 of Radio-Canada for Jazz Beat (CBC) broadcast December 18, 2005.

Due to the success achieved with «Apologie», introduced in 2004 under the same formation, François Richard decides to repeat the experience gathering again the same musicians as previously: Geoff Lapp, piano, Frédéric Alarie, double bass,
Michel Lambert, drums, Stéphane Allard, violin, Mélanie Bélair, violin, Jean René, alto, Sheila Hannigan, cello and Yannick Rieu, tenor saxophone.

François Richard Double-Quartet +1 presents a concert rich in tone textures where modern jazz will borrow from the classical and post-impressionist colours. The public will hear original compositions from François Richard as well as those of Geoff Lapp, Stéphane Allard and Michel Lambert. A concert of original music and unheard arrangements, with nine musicians on stage. On the artistic plan, the instrumentation as proposed allows to exploit influences from different styles, from classical to impressionism passing by blues, modern jazz, Latin and contemporary music. To name but a few, Henri Dutilleux, Francis Poulenc, Cécile Chaminade, Claude Debussy, Gabiel Fauré, Bill Evans, Gill Evans, John McLaughin, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and many more.

Flutist, pianist and composer François Richard is probably one of the rare jazz flutist in Montreal. In his early twenties, he founded L'OS (L'Orchestre Sympathique) with vibraphonist Jean Vanasse. In the same period, he composes several film music pieces, of which Les Bons Débarras by Francis Mankievicz, producer. François has directed and accompanied several jazz, fusion and Latin ensembles, as flutist, pianist and composer, and has participated several times to Festival de Jazz de Montréal. He played with well known musicians such as Jaco Pastorius (Bs), Don Allias (perc.) Philippe Catherine (Gt) and Claude Garden (harmonica). After introducing his first CD, Coïncidence, in 1998, he launches Ad Infinitum CD with Effendi Record.

Renowned violinist in all music genres Stéphane Allard studied at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec and at Berklee College of Music of Boston. On his graduation he was granted the Stephane Grappelli Jazz Masters Award for his exceptional success. In his numerous tours across Canada, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Corea, Germany and France, Stéphane has played with many instrumental orchestras and ensembles namely l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and The Contemporary Jazz Ensemble Icarus. He was the violinist and spokesperson of Quartango ensemble (1995-2001) with which he was invited to play at Carnegie Hall accompanied by New York Pops. Besides his numerous film music recordings, he made more than thirty CDs dedicated to classical music, variety, tango and jazz. Stéphane was hired by le Cirque du Soleil for research and environmental creations on the violin for Le Cirque's "Varekai".

Saxophonist Yannick Rieu starts a career as jazz saxophonist in 1980. In 1988, the jazz American bible, Down Beat, put him among the 20 most talented saxophonists in the world, next to Brandford Marsalis, Joe Lovano and Courtney Pine. Since then, he has been praised by the main American jazz, French and Canadian periodicals for his recordings and his appearances on stage. Yannick Rieu has played in Québec and in other Canadian provinces, in France, Germany, Portugal, Swizerland and the United States. He occasionally lives in Paris, one of the Jazz Capitals of the world. Among his five CDs are What is the colour of love which was awarded the Félix of Jazz Album of the Year at Gala of l'ADISQ 1996 and Little Zab, on Effendi label which also obtained the Félix of the Best Jazz Album at Gala of L'ADISQ 2000. September 2005 was the launching of CD "I" is memory.

François Richard is a recipient of several grants from CALQ and CAC. In 2002, he founded CMFR (Créations Musicales François Richard) co-producing and self-producing concerts at Salle du GESÙ, at Cabaret du Lion d'Or, at Studio-Théâtre de la Place des Arts and in Maisons de la Culture in Montreal.

Agent : Consultart Pierre Bertrand
consultartpbertrand@videotron.ca
Web site : consultart.ca

Producer : Créations Musicales François Richard
Member of Conseil Québécois de la Musique

Relations medias:
Alain Labonté Communications
(514) 523- 9922
alain.labonte@videotron.ca