Doctoral Colloquium (Music): Jean-Michel Pilc (McGill)
The Doctoral Colloquium is open to all. Students (Music) for whom attendance is required must sign the attendance sheet at the colloquium.
DOCTORAL COLLOQUIUM
Jean-Michel Pilc,McGill University
The Improvisation Workshop Project (IWP) brings together musicians of all backgrounds and experience levels (students and professional musicians, jazz and classical) to explore the tradition of “improvised chamber music” based on collective improvisation. Bi-weekly performances assemble different casts of musicians to try new ideas. Using an “improvisation as instant composition" approach and the collective improvisational process, the IWP investigates how such diverse disciplines as orchestration, musical interpretation and improvisation combine organically into a coherent whole, and also how a diverse line-up of musicians can hold natural and meaningful musical conversations.
The project's innovative research approach involves documentation of the creative improvisation process, including post-playing session journals logged by all participants, allowing them to share their thoughts on the artistic process. This archive provides a unique research resource for the study of improvisation-composition. Jean-Michel Pilc will be sharing his experience and thoughts about this project, which is in its third year.
An internationally renowned pianist, who has built an impressive reputation during 20 years in New York and through many tours around the globe, Jean-Michel Pilc has been living in Montreal since 2015 and teaches jazz and improvisation at McGill University. He has just released his 4th solo album, "Parallel" (Challenge Records). An improviser of impressive range and deep originality, his performances are always intense, unpredictable and high-flying.
