Emie R Roussel Trio

Junos nominated in 2021 for Jazz Album of the Year category: Group, recipient of the 2021 Hagood Hardy – Jazz Prize awarded by SOCAN, winner of the Stingray Rising Stars at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival in 2018, the Félix for jazz album of the year 2015 at ADISQ for the third album Quantum as well as the 2013-2014 Prix Opus for Jazz Record of the Year with the second album, TRANSIT, the Emie R Roussel Trio has established itself as a must-have in the current Canadian jazz scene.

With Emie Rioux-Roussel on piano (Révélation Radio-Canada Jazz 2014-2015), Nicolas Bédard on bass and Dominic Cloutier on drums, the trio delivers creative and captivating jazz with indisputable spirit and chemistry. Special mention from the jury during the Grand Prix de Jazz TD at the 34th Montreal International Jazz Festival and the 2013 Public Favorite Prize at the Festi Jazz internationalde Rimouski, the group has multiplied concerts in Canada since its creation in 2010 and asserted its presence internationally, presenting his music in twelve countries on four continents (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Estonia, United States, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Belgium and Sweden)

The trio’s fourth album, Intersections, released in September 2017, was nominated for a Félix for Album of the Year – Jazz at ADISQ 2018 and at the Prix Opus 2019. The concert Intersection also received a nomination at the Prix Opus 2019 in the Concert of the Year – Jazz category. In 2019, the Emie R Roussel Trio had the honor of being one of eight groups from outside Europe selected for “Overseas Night” to present an official showcase as part of the prestigious JAZZAHEAD! Festival 2019 in Bremen, Germany.

Ten years after its founding, the Trio launched its 5th album, Rythme de passage, in February 2020, during its 5th European tour where the group, among other things, performed for the first time in Sweden as part of the Stockholm Women’s International Jazz Festival. Rythme de passage was nominated for a Félix for Album of the Year – Jazz at ADISQ 2020. In 2022, the group was back to Europe for a concert in Italy and Belgium.

Emie R Roussel

Born into a family of musicians, Emie Rioux-Roussel was in contact with music from a very young age. First trained in classical piano, she continued the study of jazz with her father, Martin Roussel, himself a jazz pianist. He will be his mentor until he enters Cégep de Saint-Laurent, under the tutelage of Ms. Lorraine Desmarais. She completed her DEC in piano jazz interpretation and obtained a “Very high distinction” scholarship awarded by the institution. In 2008, Emie entered the University of Montreal in jazz piano interpretation with Mr. Luc Beaugrand and completed her studies there in May 2011.

In 2014 she was named Révélation Radio-Canada Jazz 2014-2015 and won, a year later, the CALQ Award – Creator of the Year for Bas-Saint-Laurent. Since 2016, she has been a NORD Canadian Artist (Keyboards). In 2010, she founded the Emie R Roussel Trio with which she produced five albums. Nominated for a Félix for Album of the Year – Jazz at ADISQ 2020 and at the Junos 2021 in the Jazz Album of the Year: Group category, the Emie R Roussel Trio made waves internationally with its latest album, Rhythm of passage. Winner of numerous awards over the years (Stingray Rising Stars 2018, Félix at ADISQ 2015, Prix Opus 2014), the Emie R Roussel Trio has established itself as a must-have on the current Canadian jazz scene. The group has had the opportunity to present its music in 12 countries, on 4 continents in recent years. In April 2019, the Emie R Roussel Trio had the honor of presenting an official showcase as part of JAZZAHEAD! Festival in Germany. In September 2021, the group received the Hagood Hardy – Jazz Prize awarded by SOCAN.

In recent years, Emie has had the opportunity to collaborate with several artists of varied styles as pianist and keyboardist including Sally Folk, La Zarra, Jeanick Fournier, Huu Bac Quintet, Oktopus and MAZ.

Nicolas Bédard

Nicolas Bédard began studying music in Quebec City under the direction of bassist Antoine Daignault. After his collegial studies, he continued his training at McGill University, with such renowned professors as Fraser Hollins, Remi Bolduc, Jan Jarczyk and Joe Sullivan as teachers. He completed a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance there in 2009, and his master’s degree in 2014. His professional career got off to a strong start, notably as a member of the funk group Grooveattic, and the jazz trio Chicago Goes West, with whom he performed in the United States and Western Canada. In recent years, Nicolas has taken part in numerous projects, including the Rafael Zaldivar Trio, Makaya, and Trio Bruxo. Since 2012, he has been the bassist of the Emie R Roussel Trio, winner of the 2013-2014 Prix Opus, and of a l’ADISQ’s 2015 Felix for Jazz album of the year. Nicolas has performed throughout Europe, North and South America, and Oceania, on both electric bass guitar and acoustic upright. In addition to his career as a performer, Nicolas has given numerous master classes in both the United States and Canada. He is currently teaching jazz bass at Laval University (city of Québec) and since 2013, he has taught electric bass and acoustic jazz bass at the Cégep de Rimouski. His broad work experience has led him to master a wide range of musical styles, from jazz to rock to funk and Latin. Nicolas Bédard can be heard on the following records:

  • Intersections – Emie R Roussel Trio, 2017
  • Geranium – Luce Bélanger 2016
  • Chapitre 1 – Laura Bucher 2015
  • Quantum – Emie R Roussel Trio, 2015
  • Mark Nelson – Sympathetic frequencies
  • The Cut – Alexis French 2014
  • TRANSIT – Emie R Roussel Trio, 2013
  • Life Directions – Rafael Zaldivar Trio, Effendi Records, 2010
  • Chicago Goes West – Chronograph Records, 2010
  • Like a Tree – Grooveattic, 2009

Dominic Cloutier

A music-lover from his earliest childhood days, Dominic discovered his passion for drums at the age of ten. A member of numerous bands throughout high school, he went on to study music in college, completing a technical diploma in musical arrangements at the Cégep d’Alma under the tutelage of Marc Bonneau and Richard Dallaire. He pursued his training with drummer Paul Brochu at the University of Montreal where he earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz interpretation. After his academic journey in Quebec, Dominic headed to New York to hone his skills during a four-month period at the Drummer’s Collective, studying with Kim Plainfield, Nathaniel Townsley and Marko Djordjevic. Upon his return, he began a career as a freelancer, playing for numerous groups and artists including Dan Bigras, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Le Show du Refuge, Yves Duteil (in Quebec) and many more. He also participated to shows such as La Mélodie du Bonheur, Footloose, Fame and Mamma Mia. Dominic’s passion for music goes beyond any particular style, and drives him to ceaselessly develop his creativity. He has been the drummer for the Emie R Roussel Trio since 2012, with which he won the 2013-14 Prix Opus for Jazz album of the year for the album Transit, and l’ADISQ’s 2015 Félix for Jazz album of the year for the album Quantum. Over the years, his work with the trio has brought him to eleven countries on four continents.