François Carrier/Michel Lambert/John Edwards/Alexander Hawkins

John Edwards – bass

Alexander Hawkins – piano

Early in 2002, saxophonist Carrier spent some months composing new works in Rome, having won an award by the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec. More tours of Canada and some European countries followed, as did more acclaimed albums. Over the years, in concert and sometimes on record, Carrier’s trio has been augmented by guest pianists who have included Steve Amirault, who appeared on Carrier’s Juno Award-winning Compassion (2000), Paul Bley and Gary Peacock, heard on Traveling Lights (2004), Uri Caine, on All’Alba (2003), Jason Moran and Bobo Stenson. Among other musicians with whom he has worked are Mat Maneri, Uwe Neumann and Gary Peacock.

Carrier’s sound is tough and he attacks his music with verve and unpredictability, demanding, and successfully receiving from audiences, attention to and understanding of the swiftly changing moods he explores.

Michel Lambert is the descendant of a virtual dynasty of classical musicians in Quebec. After studying at the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec, his fascination with drums and composition inspired him to pursue his education at Berklee College in Boston, where his professors included John La Porta, Herb Pomeroy, and Greg Hopkins. Since ‘82, different projects have taken him to Europe, across Canada, the U.S. and Asia.

John Edwards is a true virtuoso whose staggering range of techniques and boundless musical imagination have redefined the possibility of the double bass and dramatically expanded its role, whether playing solo or with others. Perpetually in demand, he has played with Evan Parker, Sunny Murray, Derek Bailey, Joe McPhee, Lol Coxhill, Peter Brötzmann, Mulatu Astatke and many others.