Glissement du temps (Slip of Time) Jazzlab Orchestra

• 1 Thanks Collier 07:07
• 2 Amigos 07:46
• 3 Murs de verre 09:35
• 4 Outer Chamber 06:30
• 5 Night Bus 11:21
• 6 EMT 09:17
• 7 La mule 06:03
• 8 Celestases 06:34
• 9 Turbulence 07:47
• 10 Le septième Continent 06:10
• Total Runtime 01:18:10

Info for Glissement du temps (Slip of Time)

Time passes—sometimes too quickly, sometimes with a contemplative slowness. For Alain Bédard, founder of the Quebec-based label Effendi Records, it seems to flow with serene constancy, echoing the Latin adage tempus fugit.

Glissement du Temps, the new album by the JazzLab Orchestra, fully embraces this reflection and elegantly celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the ensemble founded by the Montreal bassist. For this special occasion, Bédard once again brings together the crème de la crème of Montreal’s jazz scene, reaffirming the vitality and richness of this ever-evolving collective.

Varying in size from five to nine musicians depending on the piece, the ensemble offers a remarkably diverse sonic palette. The members share compositional duties, with the exception of one piece borrowed from the repertoire of French pianist Pierre de Bethmann, creating artistic cohesion while allowing individual voices to shine. This plurality of approaches results in a rich musical universe where the balance between composition and improvisation is particularly successful.

While the horn section naturally occupies a prominent place, the music of the JazzLab Orchestra is far from relying solely on it. The outstanding trumpeter Jacques Kuba-Séguin, a key figure on the Quebec jazz scene, injects just the right amount of energy to sustain the groove, which undoubtedly serves as the album’s guiding thread. Far from excessive intellectualisation, the music emphasizes emotion and accessibility, offering listeners a fluid and deeply engaging experience.

The album is further distinguished by its poignant emotional dimension through the two pieces featuring the late saxophonist Mario Allard. Having passed away in tragic circumstances, his presence lends the recording a profound sense of depth and intensity, transforming these moments into a moving and memorable tribute.

At the heart of the ensemble, Alain Bédard’s august double bass acts as a true anchor, ensuring the cohesion and stability of this sonic architecture. With playing that is both solid and sensitive, he guides the group with understated elegance, making this anniversary recording a work to be savoured and shared—much like a fine wine enjoyed over time and in good company.

Mario Allard, alto- and baritone saxophone (1-3)
Annie Dominique, soprano-, alto-, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Claire Devlin, soprano- and tenor saxophone
Erik Hove, alto saxophone, flute (4, 6, 7)
Michael Johancsik, tenor saxophone, flute (6)
Jacques Kuba Séguin, trumpet (1-3, 5)
Nicolas Riverin, trumpet (4, 6, 7)
Thomas Morelli-Bernard, trombone
Marie-Fatima Rudolf, piano (1, 4-7)
François Bourassa, piano (2, 3)
Alain Bédard, double bass
Michel Lambert, drums

The Jazzlab Orchestra
based in Montreal, defines itself as a specific group, a true institution in the world of Canadian jazz since 2004. The group explores musical writing in many styles, each time supported by stunning composers and musicians. Always keen on originality, always attached to gravitating a core of astonishing artists, it elaborates with inspiration and audacity each project since its creation. Practically the only group of its kind in Canada, he has released 7 albums and given more of 300 concerts since his creation, performing on the best stages of major jazz festivals and several prestigious venues in North America and Europe, including: The Jazz at the Lincoln Center (NY), the New Morning, the Café de la Danse (Paris), the Casa del Jazz (Rome), the Grande Teatro (Sicily), the Jazz Station (Brussels) and the Budapest Music Center (Budapest), etc.

Usually made up of 8 leaders of Quebec jazz, this "Large Format " ensemble gave also 39 special concerts with many international artists like: Ted Nash, Seamus Blake (sax), Stephane Belmondo (trp), Chinese singer Zhao Ke, Don Thompson (vib), Mark Feldman (vl) and Donny MacCaslin (sax) which were greatly received by many audiences and professionals. During the Jazz en Rafale 2015 festival, he performed the superb music of american composer and double bassist Rufus Reid with a Jazzlab that was fully inflated with 22 musicians, plus singer Carole Therrien.

All of the Jazzlab Orchestra's projects, without exception, have been nominated in the categories of best jazz album and/or best jazz concert at ADISQ, JUNO, Prix OPUS, Choc JazzMan, Downbeat, etc. Among these nominations are those of the latest project "Quintessence" nominated at ADISQ in the categories of best album of the year 2019, Hit of the month (best jazz CD of the month in Nov 2019) in the magazine Couleurs Jazz (France) and 4 & 5 stars in several other magazines.

Booklet for Glissement du temps (Slip of Time)