News
It’s been nearly three years since the release of Julie Lamontagne’s very first jazz trio album, Facing the truth, but that doesn’t mean things have slowed down…In fact, she has just signed with the label Justin Time ( http://www.justin-time.com/ ) and is now, among other projects, preparing her new up-coming album to be released in 2009.
One of Quebec pop’s most sought-after keyboard players is also very busy touring now with francophone singer Isabelle Boulay. ( http://www.isabelleboulay.com/ )You can check the schedule on this site to see where they are performing.
In 2007, Julie worked with Bruno Pelletier in a very unique project called Bruno Pelletier et le Gros Z‘orchestre -- the Gros Z being Julie’s jazz trio!!
All the arrangements for this intimate concert were cooked up by Julie herself. The show represents a meeting of two worlds: Pop and Acoustic Jazz … If you didnt get the chance to see one of the 70 shows they did, there is an album available, you may find all the details at... www.brunopelletier.com
If you happened to miss Julie’s Concert pop tout en piano TV special, which aired this past January on Musimax., don’t despair! Excerpts of the show are available at http://divertissement.sympatico.msn.ca/Musique/concertpop. There you’ll find a solo jazz piano arrangement of a Rachmaninoff concerto, as well as performances featuring each of the concert’s singers: Bruno Pelletier, Kim Richardson and Gage.
In between her many projects, Julie also finds time to embark on numerous artistic collaborations. She has been the musical director for several projects, including last year's March 8 event celebrating the 30th anniversary of International Women’s Day. This concert, produced by Espace musique, was held at the Spectrum de Montréal. www.radio-canada.ca/radio2/chanson/progspecial/33329.shtml
Julie is also the producer of jazz singer Caroline Nadeau’s second album. The CD, just recently released, is titled Si Fragile. www.carolinenadeau.com
Until she releases her new project, Julie wishes you a great, music-filled 2008, and looks forward to seeing you at one of her many concerts!
Despite her young age, pianist, keyboardist and composer Julie Lamontagne has already traced a successful and fascinating career path. She began playing the piano at the age of eight, and was soon exploring many different types of music and a wide variety of formations and instruments. Possessing a solid classical background, and winner of numerous awards (including a First Prize at the prestigious Canadian Music Competition at the age of thirteen), she decided early on to explore other musical styles. After playing flute, saxophone and even Latin percussions for several years, she decided to return to her first love, the piano, immersing herself into the worlds of jazz and pop music, alternating between keyboards and acoustic piano.
Inspired by the great Montreal jazz pianists, Julie is a former student of Lorraine Desmarais, André White and Jan Jarczyk. She continues to hone her considerable talents with Garry Dial in New York thanks to a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. She has also received funding from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec to study with the excellent pianist Fred Hersch.
Julie has appeared with Denny Christianson's Big Band, Tony Royster Jr., Guy Nadon, Clayton Cameron, Alain Caron, Bireli Lagraine, Éval Manigat, Monica Freire and many others. As bandleader and keyboardist for Isabelle Boulay, Julie Lamontagne regularly accompanies the singer on tour in Quebec and Europe, as well as on numerous television and radio programs, and is featured on her albums. She also plays keyboards for a number of other artists including Bruno Pelletier and Térez Montcalm, and can be heard on their most recent albums. She participated in Nanette Workman's latest album Vanilla Blues Café, as both musician and arranger on the piece Lost my Baby.
Also active as a composer, she recently wrote the theme music for Radio-Canada's Espace Musique network, broadcast across the country. In collaboration with the Montreal jazz label Effendi, Julie decided that her first trio album Facing the truth would consist entirely of her own original compositions. She embarks upon her new jazz career with great relish, pursuing it side by side with her already very successful career in pop music. The jazz part certainly got off to an excellent start when she received the award for Best New Artist following a performance with her trio at the 2003 OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal.
Salut Julie! Bravo pour ton album, je viens d'écouter des extraits de ton lancement, c'est magnifique, j'adore ton jeu et tes mélodies et Rich and Dave avec toi quel trio! J'ai bien hâte de me procurer ce disque. Vive le jazz!
Je suis gourmand, tu penseras..., j'aimerais t'inviter (t'inciter) à nous offrir un autre album de ta musique... tu n'as pas idée comment c'est bon... ;-)
great sound & playing ! welcome Julie i hope you enjoy listen to my piano solo improvisations and afrojazz ensemble live concerts all the best x new year 2009 friendly Pampa
