Purchase Tickets Here

Praised for his improvisations, pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous jazz giants. He worked with Harry Belafonte as his musical director and pianist and performed a duet with the legendary opera singer Jessye Norman. Since he became a professional musician in the late 80’s, Jean-Michel has constantly been very active internationally, touring over 60 countries. He moved to New York City in 1995 and formed his legendary trio with François Moutin (bass) and Ari Hoenig (drums). They recorded a one-week engagement at the legendary jazz club Sweet Basil and, in 2000, released two CDs: Together - Live at Sweet Basil, NYC - Vol. 1 & 2. During the following years, he released several other trio piano recordings that strengthened his reputation as an innovative and unique piano trio leader An active solo performer, Jean-Michel has released five critically-acclaimed solo piano records: Follow Me (2004), Essential (2011), What Is This Thing Called? (2015), Parallel (2018) and Symphony (2023). Jean-Michel is now a Justin Time Recording Artist. He has released three albums on the label: Alive - Live at Dièse Onze, Montréal with RémiJean-Leblanc & Jim Doxas, the solo CD Symphony, and the Pilc Moutin Hoenig album You Are The Song. A number of solo singles and EPs have also been released on the same label. Jean-Michel has built a strong international reputation as a unique educator. In September 2015, he joined the Jazz Faculty at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal. He has become a very active constituent of the local jazz scene, participating in many Montrealbased projects as a leader, co-leader and sideman. He continues to perform with NYC-based groups such as Pilc-Moutin-Hoenig and his US Trio with Sam Minaie and Jerad Lippi.

Guitarist and composer Roddy Ellias combines a deep relationship with both classical music and jazz in his compositions, improvisations and interpretations of jazz standards. He’s performed and/or recorded with numerous jazz giants including Lee Konitz, Tom Harrel, Joel Frahm, and David Liebman, and has toured with his own projects throughout Canada and the United States. His latest CD, Not This Room, features nine original songs about the experience of the pandemic, sung by Juno award-winning vocalist Kellyee Evans. A stirring testament to the power of creativity in the face of isolation, Not This Room combines uniquely beautiful melodies with a jazz-infused message of hope and renewal. Roddy’s other CDs, Sticks and Stones and Monday’s Dream, have both received glowing reviews from Downbeat Magazine, Just Jazz Guitar, All About Jazz, Sound/Stage Xperience, the CBC, and The Ottawa Citizen. Roddy also wrote a chamber opera, which was performed to sold-out crowds at the Music and Beyond Festival in Ottawa. Sleeping Rough is now available on DVD. In 2013, Roddy was the only Canadian recipient of the Jazz Journalists of America Jazz Hero Award.