Missing Element

'Missing Element - Live at Upstairs' is the first effort by Alex Francoeur as a leader. Alex has composed all of the music, with the exception of one jazz standard, 'I Hear a Rhapsody.' The goal of this record was to capture the energy and spirit of live jazz music: exciting, unpredictable and daring. His quintet, comprised of Chris Edmondson on alto saxophone, Gentiane MG on piano, Levi Dover on bass and Louis-Vincent Hamel on drums, do justice to this objective in brilliant fashion, with each of their individual voices shining through while conserving a concise group sound. Alex Francoeur is a mainstay in Montreal's jazz community. After graduating from Schulich's jazz performance program in May 2017, Francoeur has continued to maintain a busy playing schedule. He writes of this release: 'After spending seven straight years in music schools, I felt the need to document this exciting period of transition from a controlled academic environment to life as a freelance musician. While in school, I had the benefit of being able to write and perform music with truly exceptional young musicians, and this album not only encompasses that experience but it will also act as a stepping stone for the rest of my career. I've had the idea of a live recording for many years. Many of my favorite albums were recorded live… All of these records have a special energy to them, and I find it difficult to truly capture that feeling in a studio setting.'