[…] A fascinating concert of improvised and mostly improvised music took place at Cabaret Juste pour rire with French pianist Bénoît Delbecq making an exceptional debut with Philippe Lauzier’s Trio. Delbecq’s approach to improvisation — something in between John Cage’s prepared piano pieces, a gamelan orchestra, and Cecil Taylor — was refreshing in this already piano-saturated festival. By preparing the piano with various objects on the strings, Delbecq can access a wide variety of textures and colours not usually found in the piano. And Montréal-based saxophonist/clarinetist Lauzier provided a sympathetic stage for the gifted French pianist. With bassist Miles Perkin and drummer Thom Gossage, the trio’s sensitive and unified improvising was a remarkable setting in which Delbecq could shine.