Rewarded with a special mention by the jury of the TD Grand Jazz Award at the 34th Montreal international Jazz Festival and winners of the People’s Choice Award at the 2013 Festi Jazz International de Rimouski, the Emie R Roussel Trio features Emie Rioux-Roussel on piano, Nicolas Bédard on bass and Dominic Cloutier on drums. 

The group is rapidly building a commanding presence on the Canada jazz scene. This creative and dynamic trio skillfully blends influences from both European and North American jazz. Pianist Emie Rioux-Roussel was named Révélation Radio-Canada Jazz 2014-2015, and her compositions are performed with passion and sensitivity by these three talented musicians whose chemistry and authenticity never fail to charm audiences. 

The coming year promises to be particularly busy with the release of a third album as well as concerts in Canada, Australia, New-Zealand and Europe. They are proud to present their latest show, Quantum.

In physics, a Quantum is the smallest indivisible unit. It also provides a perfect illustration of the trio: an ensemble composed of three individuals, with similarities as well as differences, joining together to create a unique and indivisible core. The pieces are like atoms, simple individual elements uniting and combining with each other to form a whole, a complete experience. 

Drawing more than ever upon the creativity and cohesion of all three members, this very personal opus is marked both by the group’s singular acoustic sound and a more pronounced "groove" colour. In this environment of sharing and exchange, Quantum was born, where the search for sounds and textures links our beginnings to our present.

Born and raised on Montreal’s South Shore and now living in Rimouski, pianist Emie Rioux Roussel is known for her solid yet nuanced compositions. She began classical piano lessons at age five, then studied jazz with her father, jazz pianist Martin Roussel, and with Lorraine Desmarais, and obtained a diploma (first class honours) in jazz piano performance. In 2011 she completed her BA in jazz piano performance at the University of Montreal, where she studied under Luc Beaugrand.

Emie R. Roussel burst onto Quebec’s live music scene in 2007, and has shared the stage with such leading talents as Terry Clarke, Mike Gauthier, Éric Lagacé, Alex Bellegarde, Dave Watts, Michel Berthiaume and Norman Lachapelle.

In 2010 she founded the Emie R. Roussel Trio and released two original albums, Temps inégal (2010) and Transit (2013). With Nicolas Bédard on double bass and Dominic Cloutier on drums, the Trio is a prime example of Quebec’s contemporary jazz sound: resolutely young, rhythm-based, and infused with straightforward rock and pop harmonies. The Emie R. Roussel Trio received a special mention from the jury of the 2013 TD Grand Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and won the People’s Choice award at the 28th annual Festi Jazz International de Rimouski.

In 2011 Emie joined the faculty of the Jazz-Pop program at the Cégep de Rimouski as a teacher and accompanist, and in 2014 she was named one of Radio-Canada’s “Discoveries of the Year.”