Face in the Crowd: Top 10 Albums of 2003
3. Pierre Labbé is a saxophonist and composer who is active in the Montréal-based musique actuelle (literally “music now") scene and has played with members of the Canuck-prog band Miriodor. On this, his debut disc as a leader, he and his cohorts split the difference between avant-garde jazz, contemporary composition, and prog, while in the process forging a sound that is uniquely their own. There is a nice balance between the structured rigor of composition and the adrenaline rush of improvisation. The mix of instruments - tenor sax, violin, cello, double bass, electric guitar, and drums - hints at the stylistic breadth the band is capable of. They can sound like a string trio, a swinging jazz group, or an experimental rock band-all within the space of one song. Yet, thanks to Labbé’s clever writing, the juxtaposition of styles is organic and seamless.