Inexhaustible improviser François Carrier has captivated critics and audiences alike with his intense and original playing. Inspired by the vibrating and dynamic power of sounds, Carrier is interested in exploring what he calls the “emotional atmosphere” in music, and in celebrating ephemeral beauty of the passing moment. Whether in a meditative mood or a playful one, Carrier is always unpredictable. His colorful and vibrant melodies take the listener on a journey into unknown, fertile and boundless territories, and invite us to keep our ears wide open and to live in the present.
Won over by jazz since his early teens, François Carrier finds in improvisation a mode of spontaneous creation which reflects his intense need for freedom. From the West coast to the East coast of Canada, he benefits from all the occasions to study and play with well-known jazzmen and educators. Explorer of the sounds and audacious player, he quickly earns a name for himself as a musician of singular personality and individual style.
With the formation of the François Carrier Trio in 1990, Carrier increasingly devoted himself to composition and in that realm, the pursuit of his musical identity. Soon after, he launched his first album, Poursuite, composed entirely of original pieces. In June 1997, he launched his second CD, Intuition. With this album, the François Carrier Trio received a nomination at the Gala de l’ADISQ (Québec’s Music Awards show) in 1998, in the category “Album Jazz de l’Année.” Afterwards, they flew to Europe for a tour to play, among others, at the Festival de Jazz de Montreux.
In 1998, Carrier returned to Montreal to share his musical ideas with others. With a desire to experiment, to create and to explore the infinite possibilities of acoustic music, François founded NoEMI (Nouvel Ensemblede Musique Improvisée), which unites a diverse array of musicians and composers. This ensemble played with artists such as Dewey Redman, Ron Séguin, Michel Donato and Sonny Greenwich.
For his third recording, Compassion (Naxos Jazz), he brought together acoustic bassist Pierre Côté, drummer Michel Lambert and pianist Steve Amirault (enlarging the trio on three pieces) to form the François Carrier Trio + 1, four outstanding improvisers devoted to the same spirit of free play and creation. In March 2001, Compassion was awarded the Juno Award for “Best Contemporary Jazz Album.” In 2001, the François Carrier Trio recorded an album with their special guest, New York-based pianist Uri Caine. Met with wide acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the Far East, this fourth recording, All’ Alba (Justin Time Records), confirmed once again the group’s originality and depth. François Carrier spent six months in Rome, where he composed new works and got acquainted with the Italian musical milieu. Returning to Montreal at the end of June 2002, he toured the major Canadian Jazz festivals with his Trio with special guests pianists Bobo Stenson and Jason Moran. The Trio also toured Italy in November 2002. A subsequent concert followed in July 2003 with drummer Michel Lambert and pianist Uri Caine at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland. For his second Justin Time recording, Traveling Lights, released in April 2004, François Carrier is joined by twoof jazz’s revolutionary giants, Paul Bley and Gary Peacock, as well as regular collaborator, drummer Michel Lambert. Carrier, ever the accomplished improviser, continues with this recording his creative evolution with power and maturity. On Play, their newest album released in December 2004, these “advanced musicians who refuse to settle for the status quo” (All Music Guide) have documented the raw exuberance of their live performances on record, with seven improvisations and two compositions from their 2000 Canadian tour. In February 2006, François has released an outstanding live recording untitled “Happening” with Mat Maneri, Uwe Neumann, Pierre Côté and Michel Lambert. This double CD is published by the prestigious British label“Leo Records”.

...an original voice from the post-Coltrane continuum, a disciplined but creative force...»
Nils Jacobson / All about jazz / October 2003

« ...infusing his art with spirituality... a superlative recording of delightful unpredictable musical path. »
Don Williamson / Jazz Review / August 2003

« ...une expression libre et savoureuse... d’une atmosphère vibrante et poétique… captivante de bout en bout... »
Sophie Chambon / Jazz Magazine / Juin 2003

« ...du jeu inspiré… une œuvre surprenante et expressive... une excellente prestation de jazz...»
Paul Serralheiro, critique de jazz / Juillet 2002

..showcase this ensemble’s genius for alchemy... »
Michael Borshuk / CODA / September - October 2002

« ...breathtakingly intuitive... »
Joseph Blake / Victoria Times Columnist / September 2002
« ...this one’s another unassuming yet incendiary blowing date, and cheers to that, mate. ... »
Chris Kelsey / Jazz Times / February 2004
« ...among the most impassioned albums to favor my CD player in the past year... »
Russell Arthur Roberts / L.A. Jazz Scene / January 2004