Francois Bourassa: piano
André Leroux: saxophones, flute
Guy Boisvert: bass
Guillaume Pilote: drums

Pianist François Bourassa—now with eleven albums of original music under his belt—has become an ambassador for Canada’s thriving jazz community at an international level. A paragon of both consistency and evolution, he continues to seek out new challenges for himself, his colleagues, and his growing community of listeners. After releasing his first solo piano album L’Impact du silence in 2021, Bourassa is back with Swirl, a new live quartet album to be released on July 7^th, 2023.

Bourassa’s talent was initially recognized by the Festival international de jazz de Montréal in 1985, kickstarting his trio’s recording and performance career throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In 1996, Bourassa’s trio joined forces with saxophonist and flutist André Leroux. Bourassa’s eponymous quartet has been a staple of Montreal’s artistic landscape for 25 years. The band features founding bassist Guy Boisvert, saxophonist André Leroux, and drummer Guillaume Pilote, the most recent addition to the group. 

Swirl was recorded live at Studio Piccolo in Montreal on July 2nd and 3rd, 2022, capturing the energy and spontaneity that can only come from a live performance. The album features six original compositions by Bourassa, each showcasing the quartet’s versatility and passion for jazz. From the mesmerising motifs of Pooloop to the explosive coda of 15 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, listeners can expect a rich and engaging musical journey. 

“I am compelled to write to let you know that both of us were moved by the music you and the quartet made. … Congratulations on a wondrous piece of work. … And, we should add, it’s thoroughly refreshing to hear music that forces players to stretch to the limit.”

–Steve Swallow & Carla Bley, Number 9 (2017)

francoisbourassa.com

Release Date: Friday, July 7th 2023 on Effendi Records.