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Lex French

New Zealand-born jazz trumpet player Lex French, hailed by Radio Canada jazz critic Stanley Pean as “an extraordinary trumpeter,” is fast becoming a bright star on the Canadian jazz scene.

French possesses a unique voice on the trumpet and plays with technical virtuosity and abiding musical inventiveness, often being compared to legendary trumpeters Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Kenny Wheeler. He is also an internationally sought-after composer and arranger and has recently been commissioned to write works for jazz orchestra, jazz quartet, and string quartet. He holds a Doctorate of Music from McGill University.

Lex has over 100 recording credits as a sideman, and throughout his career has recorded or performed with international artists including Bennie Maupin, Aaron Parks, Diana Krall, Patti Austin, Kurt Elling, Paul Anka, Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock), Andy Bell (Erasure), Bob Mintzer, Bill Cunliffe, Eric Marienthal, Alex Sipiagin, Jean-Michel Pilc, Ryan Truesdell, James Muller, Luis Bonilla, Dick Oatts, Joe LaBarbera, Clay Jenkins, Jim Pugh, Steve Houghton, Jeff Driskill, John Fedchock, Tom Warrington, Larry Koonse, Chris Cain, Bob Sheppard, Fima Ephron, Bill Ware, and Esdra 'Nenem' Ferreira. He has also released two albums as a leader: Prevent the Future (2017). The Cut (2014)

His most recent project includes original compositions inspired by the visual arts and poetry, arrangements of folk songs from around the world, as well as standards from the jazz canon, all played by a band of Montreal jazz luminaries.

Awards

2021 NZ Music Award, Best Jazz Album: The Jac A Gathering
2009 NZ Music Award, Best Jazz Album: NZSM Big Band Run For Cover

Gear

Monette XLT+ Trumpet

Monette B3, B6LD, B6L Unity Mouthpieces

Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra: Harbour

Read "Harbour" reviewed by Scott Lichtman

by Scott Lichtman
August 8, 2024

There's something special about Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra's Harbour. Foremost, the album builds on Jensen's acknowledged talent as master composer for over 25 years. She writes songs that stimulate the emotions as well as the intellect, and she arranges them using rich, cross-instrumental blends and fresh, punctuated motifs. While Jensen already has won JUNO awards in Canada for best jazz album, Harbour raises the bar. That is because it is inspired by deeply personal themes and because her ...

Album Review

Jean-Marc Hebert: L'Origine Eclatee

Read "L'Origine Eclatee" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
January 10, 2024

Montreal-based guitarist Jean-Marc Hebert's third album, L'Origine Eclatee, sounds like something out of the ECM Records catalog. He is joined by trumpeter Lex French, bassist Morgan Moore and drummer Pierre Tanguay, forming a patient, subdued chamber jazz atmosphere that opens the first of the Hebert originals, “La Deteinte." The tune shimmers. Understatement is the plan of the day, though the force of the sound builds. Is this a haunting, like something trumpeter Arve Henriksen (no stranger to ECM) might create? ...

Album Review

Melissa Pipe Sextet: Of What Remains

Read "Of What Remains" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
May 19, 2023

On the enchanting Of What Remains, her debut as a leader, Canadian saxophonist and bassoonist Melissa Pipe delightfully blurs the boundaries between jazz and western classical music. Pipe leads a cohesive sextet on seven of her haunting originals, on the theme of time, and an arrangement of Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits' “Puudutus." For instance, “La Part Des Anges" opens with Pipe playing the main motif on her airy bassoon, with support from drummer Mili Hong's effervescent beats. After ...

Album Review

Melissa Pipe Sextet: Of What Remains

Read "Of What Remains" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
April 28, 2023

Montreal-based multi-reedist Melissa Pipe's artistic vision is fully formed. Her debut recording, Of What Remains, features a sextet which explores darkness with deep tones--Pipe plays baritone sax and bassoon here--by delving into temporality, the shifting of time and being, via chamber music reveries and jazz grooves. Noir is a word which comes immediately to mind on the disc's opener, “Complainte du vent," and its follow-up, “La part des anges." a pair of somber tunes which may evoke a ...

Album Review

Kate Wyatt: Artifact

Read "Artifact" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
July 4, 2022

At this point, in June of 2022, there is not a lot of internet chatter concerning Montreal-based pianist Kate Wyatt. Her website does not include a biography. But a trip to YouTube land reveals a bit of music from her debut CD release, Artifact. That may be all anyone needs in terms of an introduction. It is uncertain what can be learned from those “played with" and “performed alongside" nuggets that are common in new artist intros anyway.

Album Review

CODE Quartet: Genealogy

Read "Genealogy" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann

by Friedrich Kunzmann
May 6, 2021

Chordless or not, quartets tend to find a way around the necessity of vertical simultaneousness to create significant harmonies. With the Montreal-based Code Quartet it's the former variety of instrumentation, combining a vital rhythm section of drum and bass with two horns, much like Ornette Coleman's groundbreaking quartet or its logical continuation in the group Old and New Dreams. The music of Genealogy, made up almost exclusively of originals--hold the traditional “O Sacred head, Now Wounded," harmonized by Johann Sebastian ...

Album Review

Sebastian Bailey: Ensemble de Magnac

Read "Ensemble de Magnac" reviewed by Jim Olin

by Jim Olin
March 31, 2020

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 ...

“An extraordinary trumpeter.” – Stanley Pean, Radio Canada

“French has a drive and verve akin to Woody Shaw” – George Harris, JazzWeekly.com

“Trumpeter Lex French brings to mind the late Lee Morgan and the finesse of trumpeter and flugelhorn player Art Farmer.” – Christophe Rodriguez, SortiesJazzNights.com

“French is an excellent trumpet player in the tradition from Wheeler's ECM albums Deer Wan and Gnu High.” – Jan Granlie, Salt Peanuts

"French [exhibits] a virtuosic control of [the] instrument, powerfully leading the band through energetic rapids or out across tranquil depths." – Ruben Grant, radio13.co.nz