Biography
Recipient of the Prix Étoiles Galaxie de Radio-Canada (2007) for the best composition played at the Montreal Jazz Festival, pianist and composer Marianne Trudel has played in Canada, United States and France in various settings, including solo piano recitals, trios, quintet and large ensemble for which she writes and arrange all of the music.
The Marianne Trudel Quintet just returned
from a Canadian Tour promoting “Sands of Time (TRUD 2007-1)”, a new album bursting
with ideas and talent, recorded live in concert at the Lion d’Or in June 2006. The
members of the band are: Chet Doxas (soprano sax, clarinet),
Jonathan Stewart (tenor sax), Morgan Moore
(bass) and Jim Doxas (drums).
In 2004, Marianne released her first self-produced disc Espace Libres
(solo piano, compositions and improvisations). In the year 2006-2007, the Trio Marianne Trudel
was part of the prestigious program ‘Le Conseil des Arts de Montréal en tournée’
through which she presented over 10 concerts in the “Maisons de la Culture.”
Marianne has a strong and eclectic musical background that shows her multiple interests in the infinite phenomenon of music. Her previous studies have included a Master in Ethnomusicology (Université de Montréal), a Bachelor in Jazz Performance (McGill University) and two collegiate degrees in jazz arranging and classical piano. Her research includes an exploration of the multiple aspects (social, political, etc…) involved in performing improvised music in a group setting. She founded «Au cœur des musiques improvisées», serie of concerts-conferences, through which she has invited Malcolm Goldstein, Jean Derome, Michel Lambert, Robert Marcel Lepage, Martin Tétreault and Bernard Falaise. In addition to her academic studies, Marianne has frequently attended workshops at the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Vancouver Creative Music Institute, and is among the few privileged composers to have been invited to attend the Henri Mancini Institute (Los Angeles). Moreover, she has received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts (CC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the provincial government’s ‘Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec’ (CALQ), and the ‘Fonds de recherche sur la société et la culture’ (FQRSC) all of which to support the development and presentation of projects that not only bring her considerable skills to the fore but also her keen sense of creativity.
She has shared the stage with, among others, Charles Aznavour, Chucho Valdes, George Lewis, Mark Dresser, Lori Freedman, Ron Di Lauro, Juan Carlos Caceres, Muhal Richard Abrams, Evan Parker, Dylan van der Schyff, Jean Derome and Kenny Wheeler.
Marianne is an active force on the Montreal scene, often presenting concerts with Jim Doxas, Chet Doxas, Morgan Moore, Normand Guilbeault, Jonathan Stewart, and Lévy Bourbonnais (among others). She has composed and arranged for the Henri Mancini Institute Orchestra (Los Angeles, CA), Bernard Primeau Jazz Ensemble, Altsys Jazz Orchestra, Toronto Jazz Orchestra, Hugh Fraser Jazz Orchestra, McGill Jazz Orchestra, Big Band of the University of Montreal, and Oktoecho.