FRANÇOIS HOULE RECODER 4et

Gordon Grdina - Mark Helias - François Houle - Gerry Hemingway

Gordon Grdina - Mark Helias - François Houle - Gerry Hemingway

We just completed a tour of Canadian Jazz Festivals, and a wonderful trio gig (minus Gord) at item brooklyn. Stay tune as we are planning new releases for 2023, as well as appearances in Canada, the USA, and Europe

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“listed in DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE on Best of 2020!!! (January 2021 edition)”
“One reason why Canadian clarinettist François Houle’s compositions roar with such fierce and indefatigable energy lies in the personnel and instrumentation he’s assembled to play them”
— Daniel Spicer, The Wire (november 2020)
“The leader’s writing reflects the chamber-like vibe of Jimmy Giuffre’s trio with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow”
— Peter Margasak, Downbeat (November 2020)
 
 

Strong from our first release on Songlines Records, the quartet completed a Canadian Jazz Festival tour in July of 2022.

This band features some of my favourite musicians on the planet. I’ve been dreaming of working with Gerry Hemingway ever since I heard him for the first time on those legendary Braxton Quartet recordings from the 80’s. Mark Helias has performed with pretty much everyone you can imagine, from Ed Blackwell to Tony Malaby. Joining these two monster musicians is my long time collaborator (and Juno Award winner!) Gordon Grdina on guitar.

REVIEWS

The new CD , entitled RECODER, was released on Songlines Records in August of 2020. The album features 8 original compositions written specifically for this group, and a series of interludes for clarinet duo, featuring Mark Helias on the liquorice stick!

The album artwork is by Basel visual artist and designer Felix Stern.

The album artwork is by Basel visual artist and designer Felix Stern.