Lorraine Desmarais

Lorraine Desmarais (born August 15, 1956) is a French-Canadian jazz pianist and composer. Born in Montreal, she holds a Masters Degree in Classical Piano, and was influenced by Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson.

Desmarais has recorded ten albums as a solo performer and musical director, including several with well-known artists such as Michel Cusson and Michel Donato (Vision), Tiger Okoshi (Lorraine Desmarais), Don Alias (Andiamo), André Moisan, Jean Gaudreault and Ted Baskin from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Michel Bettez from the Orchestre Métropolitain (Bleu Silence), in addition to her long-standing team of Frédéric Alarie (double bass) and Camil Bélisle (drums).

She has been teaching in colleges and universities since 1985, and is a jazz piano professor at the Cégep Saint-Laurent in Montreal.

LORRAINE DESMARAIS Jazz pianist, composer

STUDIES

1983		Jazz piano with Kenny Barron, New York City, NY, USA

1981		Musical arranging – Richard Ferland, Université de Montréal

1979		Combo jazz – Armas Maiste at McGill University, Montréal

1979		M. Mus. (Master’s degree) in classical piano, École Vincent D’Indy (Univ. de Sherbrooke)

1978		Teaching certificate in music education (V.D’Indy)

1977		Académie Internationale d’été de Nice (France) stage with Pierre Barbizet 1977		B. Mus. (Bachelor’s degree) École Vincent D’Indy (Univ. de Sherbrooke) 1974		D.E.C en musique (Music college diploma) École Vincent D’Indy – violon as complementary instrument

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

2011		Doctorat honoris causa from Université du Québec à Montréal

2011		Gérard Hébert Award from Festival de Jazz de Québec

2009		FÉLIX Award from ADISQ for the album «Lorraine Desmarais Big Band»

2007		«André Gagnon» Composers Award, SPACQ

2007		Keyboard performance Award from the Arts Foundation Ontario

2006		FÉLIX Award for the album «Jazz pour Noël – Jazz for Christmas»

2005		OPUS Prize «Elles Jazzent» Jazz Concert of the year

2005		ARTS ET CULTURE Prize Gala Femmes de mérite 2004		JUNO Award for «Lost In The Stars» with Guido Basso

2004		Creation Award from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec

2002		OSCAR-PETERSON Award from the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

1991		SOCAN Composers Award for the album «Vision»

1986		GREAT AMERICAIN JAZZ COMPETITION Award, Florida, USA

1985		FÉLIX Award for the Jazz album of the year «Trio Lorraine Desmarais»

1984		YAMAHA Award at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS

Piano aux Jacobins (China), Piano aux Jacobins de Toulouse (France), Philippines International Jazz Festival, Festival Ciclo de Jazz (Spain), March of Jazz (Florida), Festival International de Jazz de St-Louis du Sénégal (Africa), Cork Guinness Jazz Festival (Ireland), Tron Jazz Club (Scotland), Birdland Jazz Club, New York (USA), Festival de Radio France et Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon), Festival OFF Juan-les Pins (France), Club de Jazz Le Travers (Belgium), Festival de Jazz Aarhus (Denmark), Parc Floral (Paris), Women in Jazz, Kennedy Center, Washington (USA), Epinal, Strasbourg, Nancy, Contrexéville (France), Club de Jazz Café des Anges, Strasbourg (France), Festival International Jazz Days (Moscow), Festival de Caën Printemps Québécois (France), Club Le Méridien de Singapour (Asia), Festival International de Jazz de Jakarta (Indonesia), Puerta-Real de Manille (Philippines), Jazz Club Le Petit Opportun, Paris (France), Festival International de Jazz de Jacksonville (Florida), Clubs Cappriccio and Greenmayer (Florida), Festival International de Jazz de Zurich (Switzerland), Ella’s Goru Club, Tennessee (USA) / Blue Note Jazz Club, New-York (USA), Scullers Club, Boston (USA)

CANADIAN FESTIVALS

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Festi Jazz de Rimouski

Tours in major cities in Québec and New-Brunswick

Tours of festivals and Canadian cities: Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, Red Deer, Canmore, Lethbridge, Victoria, Vancouver, Yukon, Saskatoon…

RADIO-CANADA HOST

2000 	«Lorraine Desmarais reçoit…» 10 radio shows consisting of performances and musical exchanges with invited guest.

'''ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS:

Symphony orchestras

2010		Orchestre Symphonique de Québec Symphony Orchestra – Dir. Airat Ichmouratov

2007		Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Symphony Orchestra – Dir. David Coleman

2006		Orchestre Symphonique de Laval Symphony Orchestra – Dir. Jean-François Rivest

2005	       Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, Spain – Dir. Alvaro Albiach

2003		Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal – Dir. Yannick Nézet-Séguin 2003		Symphonie Halifax – Dir. Simon Leclerc 2003		Orchestre Symphonique de l’Université de Montréal U. Symphony Orchestra – Dir. Jean-François Rivest

2002		Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Symphony Orchestra – Dir. Simon Leclerc

Big bands

2010		Sherbrooke Université Big Band – Dir. Michel Lambert

2006…	Lorraine Desmarais Big Band

2007		Université de Montréal Big Band – Dir. Ron Di Lauro

2003		VEJI Vancouver Jazz Improvisation Ensemble – Dir. Hugh Fraser

2003		Montreal Jazz Big Band – Dir. Philippe Hudon

1998		DIVA Big Band, New York (American tour) – Dir. Sherrie Maricle

In concert with the following artists:

Canada JAZZ Oliver Jones, Michel Donato, Michel Cusson, Paul Brochu, Alain Caron, Vic Vogel, Guy Nadon, Jean-Pierre Zanella, Jane Bunnett, Ranee Lee, François Bourassa, James Gelfand, Rémi Bolduc, Rosemary Galloway, Guido Basso, Jennifer Bell, Dorothée Berryman

CLASSICAL Angèle Dubeau et La Pieta, L’Ensemble Caprice, Les Vents de Montréal

POP Jim Corcoran, Ariane Moffatt, Bruno Pelletier, Michel Rivard, Sylvain Cossette, Martin Deschamps

USA JAZZ Chick Corea, Jacky Terrasson, Tiger Okoshi, Joanne Brackeen, Marian Mc Partland, Paquito D’Rivera, Sherrie Maricle, Terry Clarke, Five Play, Kenny Wheeler, Ingrid Jensen

COMPOSITIONS

Original compositions:

1980... More than 80 themes for original jazz compositions that mainly appear on CDs

Special commissioned pieces:

2008		XIII (Theme and Variations) for artists Angèle Dubeau and La Pieta

1999 	Odalisque for jazz pianist Oliver Jones

1995 	Sonata for flute and piano for artists Lise Daoust and Louise Bessette

Film scores:

1989		Onzième Spéciale				Micheline Lanctôt

1989		Les Pouvoirs de l’Âge 			National Film Board of Canada

1988		When the Day Comes			National Film Board of Canada

Radio-Canada program themes:

1989		Fictions

1988		La Féminisation du langage 1985-1988	Jazz sur le Vif

ARRANGEMENTS

2005...    Arrangements of original Big Band compositions

Arrangements of Christmas music themes for jazz trio and saxophone

PRODUCTIONS

1995...    Production of concerts and master tapes for: Les Productions Lorraine Desmarais inc. And Créations de jazz Lorraine Desmarais

DISCOGRAPHY

Composer, jazz pianist and musical director:

2009		LORRAINE DESMARAIS BIG BAND		Analekta AN 2 9867

2007		LIVE CLUB SODA				       Analekta AN 2 9863

2005		JAZZ POUR NOËL				       Analekta AN 2 9862

2002		LOVE - TRIO LORRAINE DESMARAIS		Scherzo SCH-CD-1511

1999		BLEU SILENCE    				        Scherzo SCH-CD -1510

1995		LORRAINE DESMARAIS 	        		Scherzo SCH-CD -1509

1991		VISION      					        Scherzo  SCH-CD 1508

1987		PIANISSIMO  					        CBC Enterprises, JZ109

1986		ANDIAMO - TRIO LORRAINE DESMARAIS  CBC Enterprises, JZ106

1985		TRIO LORRAINE DESMARAIS                     CBC Enterprises, JZ100

As guest pianist on the following albums:

2008		Martin Deschamps : Le piano et la voix	            Spin / Dep 2008		Berceuses pour Philou 				            Effendi Records

2007		Montréal Variations				                    Analekta / Select

2007		Alain Caron : Conversations                   	             Disques Norac

2003		Lost In The Stars with Guido Basso		            CBC Records, Canada 2000		Jim Corcoran : Entre tout et moi 		            Audiogram Canada

1999		Five Play - On The Brink 			                    Arbors Records, U.S.A

1999		Diva Big Band – I Believe In You 		            Arbors Records, U.S.A

As composer on the following albums:

1998	Oliver Jones  		    «Just In Time»    (Odalisque)		        Les Disques Just in Time 1996	L. Daoust, L. Bessette  «Rhythm’n’ Flute (Sonate for fl. et p.)  	Les Disques SRC

YouTube SELECTION

2010		Lorraine Desmarais at the Festival Piano aux Jacobins, Toulouse, France

2010		Lorraine Desmarais at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

2010		Lorraine Desmarais duet with pianist Jacky Terrasson

2007		Lorraine Desmarais with Ariane Moffatt «Pour un soir seulement»

2003		Lorraine Desmarais with l’Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal