“A pianist and composer deserving wider recognition, especially outside of her native land.” ~ Ken Dryden, CODA Sept/Oct issue, 2005
Reaching
Purchase Reaching on iTunesAll compositions by Michelle Grégoire, © M.Grégoire, 1989-2004, SOCAN
Musicians: Michelle Grégoire (piano), Kirk MacDonald (tenor and soprano saxophones), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Jim Vivian (acoustic bass), Ted Warren (drums).
Nominee, “Outstanding Jazz Recording” Western Canadian Music Awards 2005. Reaching made the 2005 jazzenvoy.com list of top 50 jazz recordings in Canada, and the CBC After Hours list of best jazz recordings released in 2004.
This is a debut recording for the Winnipeg based pianist and composer. Produced with the participation of Manitoba Film and Sound and Project Cool 2004, the CD features eight of her original compositions and impressive performances by her quintet which includes top Canadian jazz musicians, namely Juno winner, saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, National Jazz Awards trumpeter of the year Kevin Turcotte, and top call Toronto based rhythm section featuring Jim Vivian on bass and Ted Warren on drums.
Hugh Fraser provides the liner notes and describes this work as “the most beautiful CD I’ve heard in years…exciting, beautiful, inspired and new while building on the tradition called jazz…”
Andy Sheppard host of CBC’s After Hours says he is “very, very, very impressed…a stellar debut…Reaching has all the elements I look for in music to play on the show – strong melody, superb musicianship, a creative but accessible approach, great sound, and continuity of tone.”
Diversity
All compositions by Michelle Grégoire except “Love For Sale” by Cole Porter, reharmonization and arrangement by M. Grégoire.
Musicians: Michelle Grégoire (piano), Kirk MacDonald (tenor saxophone), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet and flugelhorn), Jim Vivian (acoustic bass), Ted Warren (drums).
Tracks: 1. Diversity (8:40) | 2. Dichotomy (5:50) | 3. Streak (8:03) | 4. Love For Sale* (8:04) | 5. Three or Four in the Morning (6:55) | 6. Gratitude Suite Part 1 (5:43) | 7. Gratitude Suite Interlude (0:48) | 8. Gratitude Suite Part 2 (3:55) | 9. Gratitude Suite Part 3 (8:01)
“Michelle Grégoire has done it again!” – Winnipeg Free Press, 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a sophomore recording for the Calgary based pianist and composer. Produced with the participation of Manitoba Film and Music and the Canada Council for the Arts, the CD features her original compositions and arrangements and impressive performances by her all-star quintet of top Canadian jazz musicians, namely Juno winner, saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, National Jazz Awards trumpeter of the year Kevin Turcotte, and top call Toronto based rhythm section featuring Jim Vivian on bass and Ted Warren on drums.
“Grégoire’s real talent is not only to write memorable tunes full of rich contours and twisting melodies, but to use her musicians to develop her ideas into colourful, elegant wholes…The CD’s centrepiece, a three-part suite called Gratitude, shows the range of her compositional talents, ranging from the airy prettiness of the opening section, to the hymn-like qualities of the middle part and the intense blowing of the finale.” – Ottawa Citizen, 4 stars