You know you’re living in a special place when you can walk to the local haunt on a Tuesday night and see great music for free. Last night I happened upon violinist Josh Zubot (of Ka Noo), viola da gambist Pierre-Yves Martel (of Quartetski), and saxophonist/clarinetist Philippe Lauzier (also of Quartetski) playing improvised music at the intimate and stylish Cagibi. The music was richly textured with the sort of organic and shifting development that happens only in improvised contexts. It emanated from a calm of mind and brought the hush of attention to a normally couldn’t-be-bothered audience. It’s almost too easy if these great musicians are playing around the corner from my house. Talk of a regular Tuesday improvised music night at Cagibi was music to my ears. We’ll keep you posted.

The Trio Busolini-Martel-Vincent (Cyprien Busolini, Pierre-Yves Martel, Hugues Vincent) will perform at L’Atelier Tampon-Ramier in Paris (France) on Thursday November 29, 2007.

This Thursday November 15, 2007, Ziya Tabassian (percussion) and Pierre-Yves Martel (viola da gamba) will give a concert as part of the Fonderie Darling’s Solo, Duos, Trios concert series.

The folk-western music ensemble Rodéoscopique (formed by Antoine Berthiaume, Philippe Lauzier, Guido Del Fabbro, Mélanie Auclair, Pierre-Yves Martel, and Stefan Schneider) will be at Maison de la culture Frontenac in Montréal on Wednesday November 14, 2007.

Doublebassist Pierre-Yves Martel has been awarded by L’OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal. He has received the François-Marcaurelle prize for his project Quartetski Does Prokofiev, a jazz quartet adaptation of the famous Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s 20 Fugitive Visions for piano solo. Moreover, the ensemble will launch a new CD in December as part of the “coup de cœur” concerts produced by SuperMusique.

Kiya Tabassian playing setar, Pierre-Yves Martel, viola da gamba, and Ziya Tabassian, percussion will be at Le Cagibi café in Montréal on Thursday August 30, 2007.