Don’t miss the performance with Les Poules (Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, Danielle Palardy Roger) and Trancelvania during the upcoming Improvising Montréal Series concert that will take place on Thursday May 1, 2008 at Casa del Popolo in Montréal.

Le GGRIL is that most cumbersome of all musical monsters, the avant-garde big band. The nature of the big jazz band is to allow improvisation over tightly structured arrangements. The big band is practically the opposite of avant-garde jazz which often respect freedom of sound over tonality, structure, or even rhythm.

Le GGRIL is centered in Québec, Canada and walks a tightrope between the improvised and the structured. The band’s arsenal of imaginative players borrow as much from post-classical as from free jazz. Their personnel is changeable but the unusual assortment of saxes, clarinet, accordions, violins, guitar and percussion seems to be the norm. The free self titled album has four tracks. Tracks 1, 2, 4 are directed by alto saxophonist Jean Derome with Fire + Bebelle most closely related to jazz. Tracks 2 and 4 are quieter and makes good use of long tones and well placed silence. Derome’s direction and playing is center toward exploring sounds and environment more so than totally free improvisation.

The same can be said for track 3 which is an extended 11 minute work featuring the improvisatory trio of Les Poules. Alto saxist Joane Hétu, percussionist Danielle Palardy Roger, and samplist Diane Labrosse tends to prefer long drones with free improvisation as accent. They mix well with the larger ensemble creating a well thought out atmospheric work.

The album is available from the excellent Insubordinations netlabel in 320kbps MP3.

The GGRIL (homeband of the Tour de Bras collective) is proud to offer you his first (and free) album on Insubordinations Netlabel (Switzerland). The ensemble recorded 4 pieces live with the participation of invited conductors Jean Derome and the trio Les Poules.

Les Poules (Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, Danielle Palardy Roger) are touring in Europe.

• October 21: Festival des musiques insolentes, Lorgues (France)
• October 22: Rude Awakening, Montpellier (France)
• October 23: Point de Bascule, Marseille (France)
• October 26: Instants Chavirés, Paris — Montreuil (France)
• November 1: La Compilothèque, 50 rue des Péniches, Brussels (Belgium)
• November 3: Festival Musiques libres, Besançon (France)

Right before their departure for Europe, Les Poules will play live in Montréal with the band P.O.W.E.R. on October 10, 2006 for the Volapük concert series.

Les Poules will then be in concert in Marseille (France) on October 12 at the Groupe de recherche et d’improvisation musicales (GRIM). Lastly, the trio will take part in the festival LEM in Barcelona (Spain) on October 19.

The trio Les Poules will be the honored guests for the second edition of the Rencontres de musiques spontanées (RMS2), to be held in Rimouski from June 2 to 10, 2006. This will also be the occasion for the group P.O.W.E.R. to officially launch their album Tomahawk Territory.