Updated: October 16, 2022
Born: May 13, 1988
It was through his classical music background that Benjamin Deschamps discovered jazz to finally make it his own. Although he cumulates artistic mediums (he is a flutist, clarinetist and arranger), it is his talents as a saxophonist and composer that have put him in the spotlight. His gregarious spirit led him to collaborate with several ensembles such as the Rachel Therrien Quintet, Odd Lot (Jacques Kuba Séguin), the Joe Sullivan Big Band, the Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal and JazzLab Orchestra (Effendi) before diving headfirst into his own projects. From trio to sextet, he plays with variable ensemble sizes to give the most fitting touch to each work.
Benjamin is recognized by his peers in the Canadian jazz scene, but also by the cultural industry. He was named “Révélation jazz Radio-Canada” in 2017-2018, and won the TD Grand Prize at the Festival international de Jazz de Montréal in 2019.
As the leader of the No Codes collective, he released in 2018 an album of the same name, his third to date. Ever on the lookout for his next musical venture, he is currently working on a sextet project with a more electric sound, to be released in the fall of 2021.
Awards
TD Grand Award Montreal International Jazz Festival 2019
JPL Victo Jazz award 2019
Révélation Radio-Canada Jazz 2017-2018
Grand Prix Festi Jazz de Rimouski 2013
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JazzLab Orchestra: Loguslabusmuzikus
by Angelo Leonardi
Jazzlab Orchestra è un medio organico costituito da tre ance e due ottoni in varie combinazioni, più una sezione ritmica con pianoforte. Opera da quasi due decenni nel Quebec (Canada), ha pubblicato sette album, collaborato con jazzmen statunitensi di primo piano (Ted Nash, Seamus Blake, Donny McCaslin, Rufus Reid) e dato svariati concerti in Nord America e in Europa, compresa l'Italia (la Casa del Jazz). La caratteristica principale dell'ottetto è la versatilità: grazie alle ottime doti individuali e ...
Continue ReadingJazzLab Orchestra: Loguslabusmuzikus
by Chris M. Slawecki
Jazzlab Orchestra has been a fixture on the jazz scene in Canada for nearly two decades. Their unique heavy sound features six brass and reed players with a relatively standard piano, bass and drum rhythm section, and they've captured that sound on several standalone recordings and presented it on more than 300 concert stages across North America and Europe. The music on Loguslabusmuzikus, nine new pieces written by bassist Auguste Le Prez under the subtitle “The New Experience: ...
Continue ReadingBenjamin Deschamps: Augmented Reality
by Anya Wassenberg
A dynamic approach, delivered with crisp modern panache, characterizes saxophonist, clarinetist & composer Benjamin Deschamps' Augmented Reality. For Deschamps, a greater reliance on an electric sound marks a considered departure from earlier work. A sense of forward momentum pervades all the tracks on the album, notably anchored by Al Bourgeois on the drumkit. Deschamps' and his sax lead off the first track, “Unfinished Business," a song with an aggressive drive that showcases the ensemble's strengths-- virtuosic technical precision, ...
Continue ReadingJazzlab Orchestra: Loguslabusmuzikus
by Jack Bowers
The Jazzlab Orchestra, formed in 2004 and based in Montreal, Canada, lies somewhere short of orchestra-size. It's actually an octet—but don't let that deter you; the unison passages are generally robust and pleasing. Jazzlab does play jazz of a sort, music that may best be described as contemporary cerebral. In other words, this is not akin to the Dave Pell or Marty Paich octets; it's more along the lines of Gunther Schuller, Jan Garbarek or William Russo. But even though ...
Continue ReadingA Selection Of New Releases
by Bob Osborne
On this week's show an eclectic mix of new releases from all corners of the world of jazz with music from Benjamin Deschamps, Ed Neumeister, Paulo Santo, Takatsuki Trio, Brandee Younger, Esinam, Mareike Wiening and De Beren Gieren.Playlist Benjamin Deschamps “Unfinished Business" from Augmented Reality (Self Released) 00:00 Ed Neumeister Quartet “Riverwalk" from What Have I Done? (MeisteroMusic Records) 06:40 Paulo Santo “As she swings, as a po(o)p song" from Agueda (Robalo) 13:21 Takatsuki Trio Quartett with Tobias ...
Continue ReadingSebastian Bailey: Ensemble de Magnac
by Jim Olin
Quebec-based composer-saxophonist Sebastian Bailey is primarily focused on chamber jazz on his latest EP, and his innovative ear guides each track. Ensemble de Magnac summarizes Bailey's creative vision quite well, especially his ability to create a diverse and engaging soundscape. The music on this release has a classic sound and the production aesthetics are solid, highlighting the natural chemistry between these talented musicians. The record's spotlight on chamber jazz allows the line-up to create a thick sonic fabric ...
Continue ReadingBenjamin Deschamps: No Codes
by Friedrich Kunzmann
After having been exposed to the enticing Trioliloquy by the A/B Trio and Christian McBride's thrilling New Jawn, here is another formation which renounces any harmonic instrument and rather relies on the abilities of two saxophones and a tight rhythm section--so No Codes has no chords. Montreal-based alto saxophonist and composer Benjamin Deschamps is joined by Frank Lozano on tenor sax, while the rhythm section is Sebastien Pellerin on bass and Louis-Vincent Hamel driving the beat. In a ...
Continue ReadingA New Edition Of Montreal's Festival Jazz En Rafale Under The Theme 'LIVE CAM'
Source:
Vivo Musique Internationale
With the pandemic not letting up, the Festival Jazz En Rafale LIVE CAM continues to bring the joy and intimacy of the 'live' jazz club-concert experience directly to the fans. Since it launched end of January 2021 (and running until May 2021), this year's festival is presenting nine different concerts featuring some of Quebec's most prolific jazz artists all performing live and on demand for a virtual and intimate experience. This edition of the Festival Jazz En Rafale was coordinated ...
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"Modern and adventurous (...)'' —Wulf Muller, Wulf's Music
"Again, composition and improvisation, exploration, individuality and tradition are all impressively maintained throughout, which makes No Codes a disc to absolutely die for." —Raul da Gama, The Whole Note
Cannonball Adderley
saxophone
John Coltrane
saxophone
Kenny Garrett
saxophone, alto
