It is the time of the Year where award nominations are revealed and DAME musicians are harvesting plenty. Pierre Cartier («Dis, Blaise…»), Tim Brady (Unison Rituals), the {nbio:frith_fr}, {nbio:derome_je}, {nbio:tanguay_pi}, {nbio:boisen_my} quartet (All is bright…) and Lori Freedman (À un moment donné) all received nominations to the Opus Prizes, handed out yearly by the Conseil québécois de la musique (Québec Musical Council, CQM). Moreover, {nbio:freedman_lo} (clarinet), Pierre Tanguay (percussions), Tom Walsh (trombone) and Jean Derome (musician of the Year) are also nominated for the National Jazz Awards. The public is invited to vote online [now closed].

Guido Del Fabbro is already well knowned for his participation with Rouge ciel and the Fanfare Pourpour. Carré de sable (Sandbox) is his first solo album. A collection of hotel room tracks that treat us with the pure pleasure of playing with sounds.

Noma is Tom Walsh and his virtuosi companions, Alan Baculis, François Chauvette, Thom Gossage, Normand Guilbeault, Guy Kaye, Pierre Tanguay and Rainer Wiens. With a sharp sense of sequence and rhythm, Diversion will surely please everyone interested in jazz’s multiple avenues.

Pierre Labbé, knowned from his previous projects Papa Boa and Les Projectionnistes, is joined this time by his own ensemble (Nathalie Bonin on violin, Julie Trudeau on cello, Frédéric Alarie on bass, Claude Lavergne on drums and Bernard Falaise on guitar). The album, Risque et pendule, injects some jazz in actuelle music and some rock to contemporary composition!

Speaking in Tongues is a high-level meeting between three delicate and inventive musicians. Its oriental sonorities and improvised segments makes this album an acessible and refined listen. An equilibrium attained only by a skillfull blend of virtuosity and attention that leaves the listener delighted.

One one side, Robert Marcel Lepage a prolific composer. On the other, La Nef, an adventurous ensemble of early instruments. As soon as the ensemble commissioned a work to the composer, they were launched in a quest for time and tempos. La machine à explorer le tempo (“The Machine for Exploring Tempo”) is a well balanced mechanic that touches upon a variety of styles with enthousiasm, furor and tact.