Jazz Fest: Francois Bourassa Quartet @ Gesù

Thursday, June 30th at Gesù, lauded Canadian pianist François Bourassa proved that, without a doubt, Quebec is home to some of the finest jazz musicians on the planet.

Fronting an incredibly talented quartet of home-grown musicians in saxophonist Andre Leroux, bassist Guy Boisvert, and drummer Philipe Melanson, Bourassa put on a contemporary jazz clinic. The evening's program consisted almost exclusively of tunes from the quartet's brand new album Idiosyncracie. Not "straight ahead" by any means, Bourassa's compositions aren't catchy. They hover on the fringe of memorability, forcing the listener to press forward into exciting musical territory rather than linger on phrases already played.

Each musician in the ensemble possesses a unique role. Leroux is charged with the bulk of the melodic foundation, weaving intricate lines in and out of the harmonic framework laid down by Bourassa. Melanson's drumming and percussive work is as much textural as it is rhythmic, with the aforementioned manipulating his drum kit in a variety of interesting ways providing a wide range of timbral effects. Boisvert's impeccable timing and rock solid groove serves as an anchor in an otherwise swirling rhythmic soup. The result is a perfect mélange of emotion and intellect fueled by the E.S.P.-like connection shared between the four.

Interesting to note was Bourassa's mention of contemporary classical composers Karlheinz Stockhausen, Gustav Mahler, and Alban Berg in advance of his three-movement "Suite Allemande". These were some of the most forward thinking composers of the twentieth century, and that influence was readily apparent throughout the evening.

While not flashy, Bourassa's quartet displayed exceptional prowess and emotional range, both in improvisation, and group interplay. The evening was capped off by an energetic rendition of Bourassa's "Rasstones", the only tune of the night not found on Idiosyncrasie.

To sum up the evening, it was an immaculate foray into contemporary jazz that kept the audience engaged from the opening note. The François Bourassa Quartet proved that you don't always have to search far and wide for jazz heavyweights; sometimes they're right in your own backyard.

-Gordon M co-hosts The J-Spot every Tuesday from 4-6pm