Quebec has produced many vinyl gems in various musical genres that have, for the most part, significantly outshone the other provinces output. It seems, however, that when it come to Jazz, our province is not the best in the country. Well the Quintonal reissue (released this month by Jazzagression records) is there to challenge that assumption.
Quintonal, comprised of Pierre Lafrenaye (trumpet), Martin Fournier (saxophone), Daniel Mercure (piano), Pierre Pilon (drums) and Jean Pellerin (bass) were active from 1974 and 1976, during which time they recorded their only commercially available recording, ‘JMC automne 76’ a four-song, seven inch EP. Sold at their concerts, Quintonal’s EP is prized not only for its rarity (roughly 300 copies were pressed) but because of the inclusion of two Quintonal-penned tunes: ‘Antoine’ and ‘Sept-Quatre’, which are extremely rare (and extremely good) recorded examples of Quebec musicians playing in a Jazz Funk mode.
The band was taught by Montreal Great Nick Ayoub and were very didactic with their playing. They wanted to teach the audience about Jazz history (the group formed under Ayoub’s supervion at the Conservatory) and this attitude is reflected in their balanced playing. Ballade pour Liane can remind the listener of the great experimental European Jazz groups (Marc Moulin’s Placebo comes to mind) while the aforementioned tracks bring a straight jazz funk aesthetic. Truly something to discover and a great assemblage of amazing and (almost) forgotten jazz compositions.
Buy LPBass – Jean Pellerin
Compiled By – Johan Fredrik Lavik, Pierre Ringwald
Drums – Pierre Pilon (2)
Electric Piano – Daniel Mercure
Front Photography By – Ken Kaminesky
Layout – Johan Fredrik Lavik
Remastered By – Lynn Petrin
Saxophone – Martin Fournier
Trumpet – Pierre Lafrenaye
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