Rémi Bolduc Jazz Ensemble
Gesù centre de créativité
Montreal
June 26, 2008, 6pm

Rémi Bolduc

For the first night of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM), Montreal alto saxophonist Rémi Bolduc kicked off the JAZZ D’ICI series at the Gesù – Centre de créativité.

A professional musician since the age of 15, Bolduc is clearly at home on stage. He joked, told funny stories in between tunes and occasionally provided the source of inspiration for his compositions.

With the exception of “Tes douces lèvres” the original compositions on display last night are off of Bolduc’s 4 + 1, Rémi Bolduc Jazz Ensemble + Jerry Bergonzi (Effendi Records, 2007).

Last night’s jazz ensemble included bassist Fraser Hollins, drummer David Laing (both of whom were on the 4 + 1 recording) and taking over piano duties from John Roney was Steve Amirault.

As well-conceived and harmonically complex as Bolduc’s playing is, there was lack of dynamism backing him up that left me a little disappointed.

In lieu of Bergonzi, Bolduc brought along an old friend—tenor sax man André Leroux. He was the butt of a few of Bolduc’s jokes, but the interaction between the two friends were by far the most genuine and engaging musical dialogues of the evening. The apex of their interplay was the encore—a re-harmonization of “Body and Soul” appropriately titled “Corps et âme.” The saxophones filled the quiet space of the former church as a duo that sounded as one to introduce the composition—a modern day communion.