On Sunday June 21, 2009 at 3 pm you can listen to Hat, a trio composed by Scott Thomson, Susanna Hood and Gordon M Allen in a graceful programme of music by the American composer and soprano saxophone master Steve Lacy. This concert will be followed by an homage to Thelonious Monk with Jean Derome, Pierre Cartier, Isaiah Ceccarelli and Alexandre Grogg.

Founded in 1994, Nicolas Caloia’s Ratchet Orchestra releases its first title, recorded live at La Sala Rossa in November 2007. Featuring 30 of Montréal’s finest improvisors, including Gordon M Allen, Chris Burns, Alexandre Grogg, Pierre Labbé, Philippe Lauzier, Damian Nisenson, Jean René, Sam Shalabi, and Joshua Zubot, the Ratchet Orchestra lolls between the sublime and the ridiculous.

The 7th edition of the Rencontres de musiques spontanées will take place on November 27 and 28, 2008 at Paradis in Rimouski (Québec). The programme will include Éric Normand’s Musique de Bataille (featuring musicians Raphaël Arsenault, Isaiah Ceccarelli, James Darling and Catherine S Massicotte), Virgule (with Gordon M Allen and Esther B), the duo of Alexandre Grogg and Isaiah Ceccarelli, as well as Le Grand Groupe Régional d’Improvisation Libre.

On June 24, 2008 at festival Suoni Per Il Popolo: the Ratchet Orchestra with Jean Derome, Nicolas Caloia, Gordon Krieger, Sam Shalabi, Damian Nisenson, Chris Burns, Bryan Highbloom, John Heward, Philippe Lauzier, Robert Kraft, Pierre Labbé, Gordon M Allen, Brian Lipson, Eric Lewis, Thea Pratt, Jacques Gravel, Noah Countability, Joshua Zubot, Kate Lawrence, Jean René, Gen Heistek, Anni Lawrence, Norsola Johnson, Alexandre Grogg, Ken Doolittle, Bruce Cawdron, Michel Bonneau.

L’OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal which will take place from June 22 to July 1, 2007 presents well-knowned artists and Amongst them:

• June 23: Jean René Trio à cordes ({nbio:rene_je}, {nbio:allard_st}, {nbio:martel_pi})
• June 24: Pierre-Yves Martel + Quartetski Does Prokofiev ({nbio:martel_pi}, {nbio:allen_go}, {nbio:lauzier_ph}, {nbio:ceccarelli_is})
• June 25: Alexandre Grogg + Philippe Lauzier + Toma Gouband
• June 27 (see details): Damian Nisenson Trio ({nbio:nisenson_da}, {nbio:mailloux_je}, {nbio:tanguay_pi}) followed by Jean Derome et les Dangereux Zhoms ({nbio:derome_je}, {nbio:walsh_to}, {nbio:dostaler_gu}, {nbio:cartier_pi}, {nbio:tanguay_pi})
• June 29: Pierre Labbé Quintette ({nbio:labbe_pi}, {nbio:allen_go}, {nbio:falaise_be}, {nbio:ryder_cl}, {nbio:ceccarelli_is})
• July 1: Rainer Wiens Follow Follow Sextet ({nbio:wiens_ra}, Joel Miller, {nbio:derome_je}, Cordell Henebury, {nbio:ryder_cl}, {nbio:gossage_th})