38th Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville
Edition 2022 (May 16-22, 2022)
Edition 2022 (May 16-22, 2022)
NADAH EL SHAZLY
(Egypt, Quebec, Lebanon, Canada) Quebec Premiere
DAKH DAUGHTERS - cancelled -
(Ukraine) Quebec Premiere
WILLIAM PARKER / AVA MENDOZA / FRANCISCO MELA
« Mayan Space Station »
(USA) Canadian Premiere
DITHER
(USA) Canadian Premiere
QUASAR
(Quebec)
NO HAY BANDA / IDA TONINATO / NAVID NAVAB
(Quebec, Canada, France, Iran, Colombia) World Premiere
SEAN NOONAN'S PAVEES DANCE
« Tan Man's Hat »
(USA) World Premiere
RENÉ LUSSIER
« Au diable vert »
(Quebec) World Premiere
MOPCUT
(USA, France, Austria) North American Premiere
KOICHI MAKIGAMI SOLO
(Japan) Quebec Premiere
MATS GUSTAFSSON / DAVID GRUBBS / ROB MAZUREK
« The Underflow »
(Sweden, USA) North American Premiere
MAZEN KERBAJ / SHARIF SEHNAOUI / RAED YASSIN
« A Trio »
(Lebanon) Canadian Premiere
FRANCK VIGROUX
« Forêt »
(France, Japan) North American Premiere
MARY HALVORSON
« Amaryllis & Belladonna »
(USA, Mexico, Austria) Canadian Premiere
BLOODMIST
(USA) Canadian Premiere
SIMON MARTIN
« Musique d'art (2022) »
(Quebec) World Premiere
PANGEA DE FUTURA
(Quebec, Canada, Philippines)
FIRE MUSIC
« The Story of Free Jazz »
(USA) Quebec Premiere
COLIN STETSON / MATS GUSTAFSSON
(USA, Sweden) Quebec Premiere
GORDON GRDINA
« The Marrow & Square Peg »
(Canada, USA, Iran, Germany) World Premiere
PROGRAM 1 : BILL MORRISON / THE GREAT FLOOD
BILL MORRISON
« The Great Flood »
Video, 75 minutes
Music by Bill Frisell
USA, 2013
PROGRAM 2 : OMBRES ÉLECTRIQUES / ELECTRIC SHADOWS
STEVEN WOLOSHEN & ALEXANDRA GRIMANIS
« Rhythm In The Backstroke »
35mm to video, 2:22 minutes
Music by Fred Frith
Québec, 2019
MICHAELA GRILL
« under the microscope »
Video, 7 minutes
Music by Sophie Trudeau
Austria, 2021
JULIE TREMBLE
« Explosion no 3 »
Video, 2:23 minutes
Québec, 2011
SABRINA RATTÉ
« House of Skin »
Video, 10 minutes
Music by Roger Tellier-Craig
Québec, 2020
JOOST REKVELD
« #57 »
Video, 14 minutes
Netherlands, 2017
PETER TSCHERKASSKY
« Train Again »
35mm to video, 20 minutes
Austria, 2021
MARIE-DOUCE ST-JACQUES
« L'étang de vibrations (2022, Victoriaville) »
(Quebec) World Premiere
JOËL LAVOIE
« De face »
(Quebec) World Premiere
CAROLINE GAGNÉ
« Saule fragile »
(Quebec) World Premiere
ANNE-F JACQUES
« Températures »
(Quebec) World Premiere
LÉA BOUDREAU / ÉTIENNE LEGAST
« Dyschronie »
(Quebec) World Premiere
PASCALE LEBLANC LAVIGNE
« Les fours à micro-ondes sont-ils bannis en Russie? »
« Les belles tuiles à plafond »
(Quebec) World Premieres
FORTNER ANDERSON / GENEVIÈVE LETARTE / JAMES SCHIDLOWSKY / ALEXANDRE ST-ONGE
« Le songe d'artisan »
(USA, Quebec) World Premiere
PATRICK BERGERON
« Souvenirs ébroués »
(Quebec) World Premiere
JÉRÉMIE ST-PIERRE
« Qu'est-ce qui se trame? »
(Quebec)
All photos by Martin Morissette
EGYPT, QUEBEC, LEBANON, CANADA
QUEBEC PREMIERE
« Parfois en complainte, d’autres fois en cris, Nadah a su charmer l’auditoire qui était attentif et partageait ses émotions vocales. » TOUPIN, Manon. « La Nouvelle Union », 20 mai 2022
“Sam Shalabi […] was especially mesmerizing as he painted a landscape of colourfully varied guitar noise behind each piece.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“Ms. El Shazly has a lovely, enchanting, sensuous voice that was at the center of all the songs in this set. Her vocals as well as the other members of the band were bathed in ethereal echoes or reverb, giving everything a dream-like effect.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
USA
CANADIAN PREMIERE
« Avec ses acolytes musiciens, il a présenté le projet « Mayan Space Station » qui a permis de voir à l’œuvre des virtuoses de leurs instruments respectifs. Chacun a présenté son talent et savoir faire musical. Le tout joint ensemble pour offrir une prestation remarquable. » TOUPIN, Manon. « La Nouvelle Union », 20 mai 2022
“With almost no rehearsal time, the Parker trio presented what turned out to be an engaging free-jazz and improvised music session for a full 80 minutes – the opening night highlight.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 21, 2022
“It was Mendoza's guitar that cracked the night, though, with a blistering electric attack that welded rock music structures with the fire of free jazz improvisation. For a band that had no plan to play 48 hours before, they proved their various instincts were in cosmic alignment.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“William Parker takes a back seat to no one as a musician, but both Mendoza and Mela were very impressive, with Mendoza firing off high-speed runs of notes and Mela inventively accenting the playing of Parker and Mendoza.” CHAMBERLAIN, Mike. « All About Jazz », May 31, 2022
“This set was astonishing and completely improvised. Free jazz/rock, organic, free-flowing, spirit music, with all three members contributing to the sound.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
USA
CANADIAN PREMIERE
“My favourite was Renegade by Taylor Levine – a fast-paced, intense, and multi-layered piece that even at 1 a.m. captured our full attention.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 21, 2022
QUEBEC
“Playing with precision and nuance, the ensemble worked through the program and its range of sounds, from tiny to extreme, chosen to fit the acoustics of the space. Most memorable and having the fullest impact was XAS by Iannis Xenakis, a tonally and rhythmically varied piece that engaged us in its complexity and power.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 22, 2022
« Le quatuor de saxophones Quasar a présenté au FIMAV un de ses programmes les plus exigeants de sa saison [...] Il y avait de quoi être fier de ces quatre virtuoses montréalais, toujours au service de la période contemporaine, virtuoses que sont Marie-Chantal Leclair, sax soprano, André Leroux, sax ténor, Mathieu Leclair, sax alto, Jean-Marc Bouchard, sax baryton. » BRUNET, Alain. « PAN M 360 », 23 mai 2022
QUEBEC, CANADA, FRANCE, IRAN, COLOMBIA
WORLD PREMIERE
“The piece easily and engagingly flowed through three sections that began with fractured and plosive sounds rendered by bowed and woodwind instruments, as well as vocals by Sarah Albu and ondes Martnenot by Daniel Áňez” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“It reminded me of drifting on an abandoned ship, with creaky boards underneath. It kept building with the groaning sounds of wood and string, building to a moderate frenzy.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
USA
WORLD PREMIERE
« La guitariste électrique Ava Mendoza – époustouflante ! — et nul autre que Malcom Mooney, chanteur original du groupe rock kosmiche CAN qui, passé ses 75 ans, possède toujours une voix fringante. Noonan joue autant la batterie que le chef d’orchestre, chante volontairement faux et fait des blagues tout au long de ce concert qui a démoli l’image austère que le grand public pourrait se faire des musiques actuelles. » RENAUD, Philippe. « Le Devoir », 21 mai 2022
“Over-the-top, for sure, but Noonan’s show hit home with a crowd that trooped out all smiles.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », 22 mai 2022
“With his joyful, endlessly energetic and genre-crossing approach to drumming, he was clearly bursting with glee as he directed the towering bass monolith Tacuma into the realms of quasi-metal overdrive. It was a truly cosmic and poetic experience, punctuated by no small amount of onstage merch promotion, tongue mostly in cheek.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“The energy level was often on the top and infectious with the quartet often playing those difficult twists and turns with ease.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
QUEBEC
WORLD PREMIERE
« Du pur Lussier, ludique et rigoureux, synthèse de ses amours musicales, pour le freejazz, le rock, les musiques d’Europe de l’Est, la musique pour enfants, en plein cœur de la performance, on aurait pu croire qu’il a passé son confinement en réécoutant de vieux épisodes des Simpsons tant une de ses compositions semblait réinterpréter le thème après avoir mis ses notes dans le désordre. » RENAUD, Philippe. « Le Devoir », 21 mai 2022
“It was a fun concert with catchy melodies, convincing one older gent to start dancing alone near the stage. For a change of pace, Lussier called on Japanese improviser Koichi Makigami to liven things up with some of his vocal pyrotechnics. Lussier earned a rare encore call and warm standing ovation.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 22, 2022
« Quant à René Lussier, un artiste emblématique du FIMAV depuis les débuts, eh bien il a fait du très bon René Lussier. [Lussier] reste fidèle à son jeu singulier à la guitare et surtout à une œuvre complexe impliquant différentes source populaires québécoises (folklore, country, etc.) ou universelles (jazz contemporain, bruitisme, musique contemporaine, musiques pour dessins animés, notamment) à des structures cohérentes et parfois exigeantes pour les interprètes fort bien préparés pour l’occasion [...] » BRUNET, Alain. « PAN M 360 », 23 mai 2022
“I recall some impressive soloing by Julie Houle on tuba, as well as subgroups like Lussier on guitar with violinist Alissa Cheung, some free sections, progressive and chamber music-like sections, impressive accordion and backwards sounding guitar & tuba, harmonized in a unique way.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
USA, FRANCE, AUSTRIA
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
“The last piece was all fire and brimstone for the ears, enhanced by orange and blue lights that closed the show. It was great – a festival highlight!” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 22, 2022
« Chen possède une voix aux mille personnalités, tantôt mélodieuse, plus souvent menaçante. Desprez extrait de son instrument des sonorités étonnantes, se contentant moins de jouer des notes que de superposer des couches de sons, rappelant le travail textural d’un Christian Fennesz. Le plus spectaculaire demeure König, qui joue souvent d’une seule main, la seconde lui servant à manipuler son synthétiseur en temps réel. Le temps d’une première improvisation d’une quarantaine de minutes, Mopcut a transporté le public de Victo. » RENAUD, Philippe. « Le Devoir », 21 mai 2022
« Subtilité, sensualité, violence, douceur, tous les états intérieurs de l’humain ont été tour à tour fréquentés par ces musiciens extêmement créatifs, dont la rencontre produit une des meilleures équations réunissant les variables drone, chant, bruitisme, avantjazz, post rock, ou hardcore. » BRUNET, Alain. « PAN M 360 », 21 mai 2022
“This was a set of brutal improv at its best.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
JAPAN
QUEBEC PREMIERE
“Voice artist Koichi Makigami presented a charming and funny set on Saturday, using both his voice and small instruments such as a jaw harp in a series of short pieces.” CHAMBERLAIN, Mike. « All About Jazz », May 31, 2022
“He ended his set by slowly walking down the central aisle of the church singing softly until he got to the back with his voice fading away. It was a wonderful set and it no doubt enchanted all members of the audience with its infectious charm.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
SWEDEN, USA
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
“Grubbs initially navigated his guitar in swells between the two before stepping to the microphone to contribute two songs that were unexpected in the mostly improvisational context, but were also easily the highlight of the show.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
LEBANON
CANADIAN PREMIERE
“The early evening show featured the A Trio – Lebanese nationals Mazen Kerbaj (trumpet), Sharif Sehnaoui (acoustic guitar), and Raed Yassin (bass), considered pioneers of avant-garde music in the Arab world. They used a range of techniques and devices to produce a signature soundscape.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 24, 2022
“Eschewing almost all notions of playing their instruments in a conventional manner, the three musicians built an insistent mood of color and a bit of whimsy. Kerbaj's use of the trumpet was captivating and at times quite amusing, with a visual as well as a sonic aspect to it.” CHAMBERLAIN, Mike. « All About Jazz », May 31, 2022
FRANCE, JAPAN
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
“Called Forest, it was an arresting and quietly powerful performance.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 24, 2022
“The dim lighting, combined with a flow of abstract images screened behind the stage, effectively played with vision's depth and the mind's willingness to unravel suggestive rather than wholly representational imagery.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim!», May 24, 2022
USA, MEXICO, AUSTRIA
CANADIAN PREMIERE
« L’exécution fut très proche des enregistrements qui viennent à peine d’être rendus publics : les improvisations succinctes de la guitare (Halvorson), du vibraphone (Patricia Brennan), du trombone (Jacob Garchik), de la trompette (Adam O’Farrill) se joignent admirablement aux partitions brillantes et superbement interprétées [...] » BRUNET, Alain. « PAN M 360 », 23 mai 2022
“Halvorson's genius at composition is matched by her generosity in choosing to highlight her ensemble's strengths rather than drawing the spotlight onto her own guitar work.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“Halvorson’s inventive and lively compositions transcend barriers separating contemporary classical from avant jazz, or other labels. [...] – master musicians celebrating their art as the audience enjoyed their compatibility and happy complicity [...]. When all ten played together, Halvorson’s guitar work and improv, and that of vibraphonist Brenna, stood out. The biggest crowd of the festival so far gave the group an enthusiastic standing O.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 24, 2022
“The whole concert was fascinating, with the Amaryllis group smoother and more fluid. The harmonic interplay between Halvorson and Brenna was intriguing, and Adam O'Farrill's trumpet playing was old-school cool, with a beautiful tone and phrasing.” CHAMBERLAIN, Mike. « All About Jazz », May 31, 2022
“Each of Mr. Halvorson’s guitar solos were true stand outs.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
USA
CANADIAN PREMIERE
“Aside from being a strong clarinetist, Mr. Cymerman is a wiz at recording and manipulating his clarinet in a variety of ways. JC often plays a phrase (handful of notes) on clarinet and then loops or manipulates the sound in usually fascinating ways.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
QUEBEC
WORLD PREMIERE
« Sa musique très spéciale se fonde sur le déploiement de textures harmoniques qui varient progressivement en relief et en intensité, le tout conclu par une superbe ascension dans les fréquences plus aiguës. Cette linéarité du son finit par happer le mélomane et le brancher sur les microdétails de ce minimalisme apparent exprimé dans l’œuvre créée dimanche, Musique d’art (2022). » BRUNET, Alain. « PAN M 360 », 23 mai 2022
“Performed Sunday in the main sanctuary of a beautifully renovated 19th-century church, the simplicity of the music provided a calm and reflective respite from the more complex and vigorous material in most festival concerts over four days.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 25, 2022
“Long tones intersected, diverged, converged and finally built to shimmering climax. A fascinating concert.” CHAMBERLAIN, Mike. « All About Jazz », May 31, 2022
QUEBEC, CANADA, PHILIPPINES
« Le tout donnait une certaine allure mystique à l’orchestre. Plus on avançait dans le concert et plus les batteries prenaient de l’espace. C’est quand même quelque chose d’avoir trois très bons batteurs qui font des motifs différents complémentaires. Disons qu’au point de vue de la puissance, c’était assez convaincant. » LABRÈCHE, Louis-Philippe. « Le Canal Auditif », 23 mai 2022
“Ambient noise, propelled by three drummers, was the contrasting character of the mid-afternoon show called Pangea de Futura. It began with the tingle of a triangle and computer-generated rumble that served as a welcome mat to the eight-member Montreal-based band. Over a gradually broadening palette of sound, lead vocalist Naboysha Rakic added his wordless chant to the mix until three drummers began pounding away as the vocalist shouted into his mike. At one point he raised a fist skyward. A sign of protest to all that is wrong in the world?” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », May 25, 2022
USA
QUEBEC PREMIERE
“FIMAV has long promoted a wide variety of Free/Jazz and other Free Musics from around the world. This film fit the spirit of this fest perfectly.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
USA, SWEDEN
QUEBEC PREMIERE
« Regarder Colin Stetson et Mats Gustafsson jouer ensemble, c’est comme assister à une épreuve olympienne. C’est impressionnant à tous les niveaux... L’aspect visuel de la performance était bien intéressant aussi puisqu’une lampe placée de biais donnait des ombres folles sur le mur de droite. Ainsi, on pouvait à un moment voir Colin Stetson immense qui jouait de son saxophone basse alors que Mats Gustafsson était tout petit avec sa flûte traversière. Un beau flash du concepteur d’éclairages. » LABRÈCHE, Louis-Philippe. « Le Canal Auditif », 23 mai 2022
« Saxophones alto et basse côté Stetson, sans compter la respiration circulaire et les micro-contacts, saxophone baryton côté Gustafsson, haute intensité, haute virtuosité, dialogue fervent. » BRUNET, Alain. « PAN M 360 », 23 mai 2022
“When the two did combine woodwinds, the results were at times surprisingly hushed and thoughtful, verging into melodic territory from time to time. But there were also fires to stoke and eruptions to set off. The set surely satisfied both those who love pyrotechnics and those who like to lean in closer.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“This collaboration really worked well since both saxists would switch between different saxes or electronics so that each segment was fascinating in different ways.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
CANADA, USA, IRAN, GERMANY
WORLD PREMIERE
“Their interpretations were filled with emotion and verve, not to mention good humour.” HILL, Eric. « Exclaim! », May 24, 2022
“Maneri’s viola provided the most interesting development of the various themes including in the closing segment when all seven players shared the stage – a fitting end to the 38th edition of this festival.” BLOCK, Irwin. « Avant Music News », 25 mai 2022
“It was a perfect ending for a marvelous festival, and I still smile when I think about it. For me and others, this was the best set of the fest and a great way to bring things to a grand close.” GALLANTER, Bruce. « Downtown Music Gallery », June 6, 2022
QUEBEC
WORLD PREMIERES
MARIE-DOUCE ST-JACQUES « L'étang de vibrations (2022, Victoriaville) »
JOËL LAVOIE « De face »
CAROLINE GAGNÉ « Saule fragile »
ANNE-F JACQUES « Températures »
LÉA BOUDREAU / ÉTIENNE LEGAST « Dyschronie »
PASCALE LEBLANC LAVIGNE
« Les fours à micro-ondes sont-ils bannis en Russie? » et « Les belles tuiles à plafond »
FORTNER ANDERSON / GENEVIÈVE LETARTE / JAMES SCHIDLOWSKY / ALEXANDRE ST-ONGE « Le songe d'artisan »
PATRICK BERGERON « Souvenirs ébroués »
QUEBEC
STEVEN WOLOSHEN & ALEXANDRA GRIMANIS « Rythm In The Backstrocke »
MICHAEL GRILL « under the microscope »
JULIE TREMBLE « Explosion no 3 »
SABRINA RATTÉ « House of Skin »
JOOST REKVELD « #57 »
PETER TSCHERKASSKY « Train Again »
MAY 2022
FIMAV @ 38 - An edition that lived up to expectations (pdf)
FIMAV @ 38 - Cancellation of the Dakh Daughters concert (pdf)
FIMAV @ 38 - Relocation of the Dakh Daughters concert (pdf)
Regard sur le FIMAV - an exhibition by Martin Morissette (pdf)
APRIL 2022
FIMAV @ 38 - Koichi Makigami to replace Fátima Miranda (pdf)
MARCH 2022
FIMAV @ 38 - All tickets are on sale now! (PDF)
FIMAV @ 38 - Concerts, Films and Festival Passport Presale (pdf)
FIMAV @ 38 - Surprise reveal of two concerts (pdf)
FEBRUARY 2022
Public health measures in force at the 38th FIMAV 2022:
Mandatory:
Recommended but not mandatory:
