Lex French

Dr. Lex French: Jazz Trumpeter and Composer
New Zealand-Canadian jazz trumpet player Lex French has been hailed by Radio Canada jazz critic Stanley Pean as “an extraordinary trumpeter”. He is fast becoming a bright star
on the Canadian jazz scene, and is highly in demand after relocating to Montreal in 2016. He is also a sought-after composer and arranger, and has recently been commissioned to write works for string quartet, jazz orchestra, and massed trombone choir.
Lex has recorded or performed with international artists including Bennie Maupin, Aaron Parks, Diana Krall, Patti Austin, Kurt Elling, Paul Anka, Arturo Sandoval, Nikki Yanofsky, Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock), Andy Bell (Erasure), Bob Mintzer, Bill Cunliffe, Eric Marienthal, Alex Sipiagin, Jean-Michel Pilc, Ryan Truesdell, James Muller, Luis Bonilla, Dick Oatts, Joe LaBarbera, Clay Jenkins, Jim Pugh, Steve Houghton, Jeff Driskill, John Fedchock, Tom Warrington, Larry Koonse, Chris Cain, Bob Sheppard, Fima Ephron, Bill Ware, and Esdra 'Nenem' Ferreira. He has also released two albums as a leader: The Cut (2014) and Prevent the Future (2017) and Live at the Rogue and Vagabond (2020). In addition he is a he has won the Recorded Music of New Zealand Award for jazz album of the year twice, in 2009 and 2021.
In Montreal, his most recent engagements have included playing with the The National Jazz Orchestra of Montreal (ONJM), Christine Jensen Quintet, the Jim Doxas Quartet, Joel Miller's Dream Cassette, the Yannick Rieu Nonet, The Emie Roussel Trio, Mark Nelson’s Sympathetic Frequencies, the Eric Harding Quartet and CODE Quartet.
He has studied with Ingrid Jensen, Dave Douglas, John Hollenbeck, Kevin Dean, Jocelyn Couture and Charley Davis, and holds a Doctoral of Music degree in Jazz from McGill University.

Dr. Lex French: Trompettiste jazz et compositeur

Le trompettiste Nouvelle-Zélandais-Canadien Lex French est décrit par le critique de jazz Stanley Pean comme « un trompettiste extraordinaire ». Il est en train de devenir une brillante étoile de la scène jazz canadienne et est très en demande après son déménagement à Montréal en 2016. Il est aussi en demande en tant que compositeur et arrangeur. Il a d’ailleurs récemment été choisi pour écrire des pièces pour orchestre de jazz, quatuor à cordes, et chorale de trombone.
Lex a enregistré et joué en concert avec des artistes internationaux tels que Bennie Maupin, Aaron Parks, Diana Krall, Patti Austin, Kurt Elling, Arturo Sandoval, Nikki Yanofsky, Paul Anka, Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock), Andy Bell (Erasure), Bob Mintzer, Bill Cunliffe, Eric Marienthal, Alex Sipiagin, Jean- Michel Pilc, Ryan Truesdell, James Muller, Luis Bonilla, Dick Oatts, Joe LaBarbera, Clay Jenkins, Jim Pugh, Steve Houghton, Jeff Driskill, John Fedchock, Tom Warrington, Larry Koonse, Chris Cain, Bob Sheppard, Fima Ephron, Bill Ware et Esdra 'Nenem' Ferreira. Il a aussi fait paraître deux albums en tant que leader, The Cut en 2014 Prevent the Future en 2017 et Live at the Rogue and Vagabond en 2020. Il a aussi gagné l’album de l’année de jazz en Nouvelle-Zealand en 2009 et 2021.
À Montréal, il y performe entre autres avec le Christine Jensen Quintet, le Jim Doxas Quartet, CODE Quartet, l’Orchestre National de Jazz de Montréal, Joel Miller’s Dream Cassette, le Nonette de Yannick Rieu, le Emie Roussel Trio, Mark Nelson’s Sympathetic Frequencies, et le Éric Harding Quarte.
Il a étudié avec Ingrid Jensen, Dave Douglas, John Hollenbeck, Kevin Dean, Jocelyn Couture and Charley Davis, et il est titulaire d’une doctorat en jazz de l’Université McGill.