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)

Tim Brady will play in solo as part of the Oxford Contemporary Music Festival (UK) on October 20, 2007.

Two new albums on Malasartes label have been released: Departure by Michel Mergaerts, Pierre Tanguay and Erwin Vann, plus Mike Essoudry, Linsey Wellman by Mike Essoudry and Linsey Wellman.

Pianist Marianne Trudel weaves classical influences into a modern jazz context that includes various styles of free improvisation on this second CD under her name. It is a showcase, combining five pieces, recorded live with her band at the Lion d’Or during last year’s L’OFF Festival de Jazz, with three in the studio. Trudel is at her best on ballads like Vol d’essai, where we hear her sensitive and sensible voice. Parcours, lasting 15 minutes, is the most substantial piece, displaying solid arranging and improv talents. Sur la route, built around a samba rhythm, is a lighter piece showing her versatility — it won the Galaxie award for best new composition at this summer’s Montréal International Jazz Festival.

Rating 4 — Wonderful

Enregistré au Lion d’Or à l’occasion de L’OFF Festival de Jazz 2006, Sands of Time illustre avec éloquence que non seulement le temps a filé mais que, comme un grand vin, la musique de la jeune pianiste ne cesse de gagner en profondeur et en maturité. Comme sur son premier opus, Espaces libres, enregistré en solo, Marianne Trudel se révèle une compositrice audacieuse et une improvisatrice aux idées originales. À ses côtés, les saxophonistes Rob Mosher et Jonathan Stewart déploient également leurs ailes sur des mélodies tantôt contemplatives, tantôt débridées, avec le soutien du contrebassiste Morgan Moore et du batteur Robbie Kuster. Dans une configuration changeant selon les pièces (trio, quartette ou quintette), l’ensemble fait preuve d’une cohésion remarquable.

[…] For me and most of my media bredren and sistren, expectations are raised when they see an envolope in the mail from a favourite label. Ambiances Magnétiques has gotten heavy play on the Abstract Index radio show. They’ve really surprised me over the last few years as they continue break new ground with very diverse releases, and I have to admit I’m more enthusiastic with what they’re putting out these days that a few years ago. The surprises continue with stalwart AM participant’s Michel F Côté’s new disc, (Juste) Claudette. This is one of the ballsiest jazz records to come out of Canada in years, with the possible exception of last year’s ZMF Trio disc. There’s a whole lot of soul inside this music, though it’s twisted in all kinds of horrible ways. From the get-go, Côté’s drumming is unashamedly groove-oriented, though very roughly so. Jesse Levine’s Sun Ra-like organ parts guarantees that outer spaceways are nearer than you think. Alexandre St-Onge’s bass plays off the lower range of the organ remarkably well. Bernard Falaise’s guitar work often reminds me of Derek Bailey’s work on Mirakle (played 2 weeks ago) — nonlinear but still falling in all the right places. With processed pocket trumpet thrown into the mix, Miles Davis and Jon Hassell comparisons are inevitable, though this sole brass influence provides sonic difference to the rest of the band. Although these songs are typically less than four minutes, sometimes they descend into nondescript though aggressive bluesy shuffles, taking a half point away from this record’s overall score. Yup, Ambiances Magnétiques surprised me again — I’m surprised these players had this record in them, and that it would come out on this label.