"A World of Piano” - a solo piano series curated by GRAMMY®-winning composer and pianist Geoffrey Keezer. Named after Keezer’s favorite album by the great jazz pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr., “A World of Piano” will showcase an extraordinary lineup of emerging voices, marquee performers, and forward-thinking artists who embody the present and future of improvised piano music.
Praised for his improvisations, pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous jazz giants. He worked with Harry Belafonte as his musical director and pianist and performed a duet with the legendary opera singer Jessye Norman.
Since he became a professional musician in the late 80’s, Jean-Michel has constantly been very active internationally, touring over 60 countries. He moved to New York City in 1995 and formed his legendary trio with François Moutin (bass) and Ari Hoenig (drums). They recorded a one-week engagement at the legendary jazz club Sweet Basil and, in 2000, released two CDs: Together - Live at Sweet Basil, NYC - Vol. 1 & 2. During the following years, he released several other trio piano recordings that strengthened his reputation as an innovative and unique piano trio leader.
An active solo performer, Jean-Michel has released five critically-acclaimed solo piano records: Follow Me (2004), Essential (2011), What Is This Thing Called? (2015), Parallel (2018) and Symphony (2023).
Jean-Michel is now a Justin Time Recording Artist. He has released three albums on the label: Alive - Live at Dièse Onze, Montréal with Rémi Jean-Leblanc & Jim Doxas, the solo CD Symphony, and the Pilc Moutin Hoenig album You Are The Song. A number of solo singles and EPs have also been released on the same label.
Jean-Michel has built a strong international reputation as a unique educator. In September 2015, he joined the Jazz Faculty at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal. He has become a very active constituent of the local jazz scene, participating in many Montreal-based projects as a leader, co-leader and sideman. He continues to perform with NYC-based groups such as Pilc-Moutin-Hoenig and his US Trio with Sam Minaie and Jerad Lippi.
