PIANISSIMO: Lorraine Desmarais & Félix Stüssi
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Lorraine Desmarais
Pianist and composer Lorraine Desmarais is known in Canada, the
USA, Europe, Mexico, China, Indonesia and Africa for her solo, trio
and big band performances. She has also appeared with many
symphony orchestras. She has twelve albums of original
compositions. Three of these albums (Trio Lorraine Desmarais , Jazz
pour Noël and Big Band) have received FÉLIX awards at the Gala de
ADISQ. In 2011, she received a Doctorat Honoris Causa from the
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM). In 2013, she was awarded
by becoming Member of the Order of Canada. Lorraine Desmarais
played in concert with artists of worldwide renown such as,
Chick Corea, Oliver Jones, Jacky Terrasson, Joe Lovano, The New
York Diva Big Band, the Brubeck Brothers and Paquito D’Rivera.
www.lorrainedesmarais.com
Félix Stüssi
Be it on a bicycle or behind the keys, Félix Stüssi loves adventure and fresh air. Since his move from Switzerland to Canada, Stüssi has turned his back on journalism - jazz piano and composition are now his main focus. In 2007, his quintet won the prestigious Grand Prix of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. A year later, US-trombonist Ray Anderson joined the project and the band turned into a sextet. The four albums of the group were very well received on both sides of the Atlantic, they were nominated for several prizes (Juno Awards, ADISQ, Prix Opus).
The quartet SuperNova 4 with Jean Derome (saxes, flute), Normand Guilbeault (bass) and Pierre Tanguay (drums) has released a self-titled album in 2020 (Effendi FND159), followed by UNICUM in 2024 (FND171). During the pandemic, the duo Jean Derome & Félix Stüssi have produced PAPPERLAPAPP (FND168), recorded and filmed in the pianist’s living room. In 2025, Félix Stüssi and Ray Anderson are planning on recording a first duo-album, stay tuned.
Félix Stüssi returns regularly to Europe, where he has played among others with Bruno Spoerri, Nils Wogram, Jürg Wickihalder, Christoph Grab, Werner Fischer and Peter A. Schmid. Schmid and Stüssi have recorded a duo CD which has been released on Unit Records in January 2017 (Transatlantic Conversations, UTR 4738). In January 2017, the region Glarus Nord (Switzerland) has honoured Stüssi with a culture price. In 2015 and 2022, Ray Anderson and Félix Stüssi have toured in Europe as a duo.
As a member of the Auguste Quartet and the Jazzlab Orchestra, Félix Stüssi has frequently toured in Canada, Europe and Asia. He was commissioned to compose and arrange an entirely new repertoire for the Jazzlab Orchestra, featured on the group’s album Quintessence (Effendi, FND 152).
felixstussi.com