Ambiances Magnétiques
Encyclopedia
Ambiances Magnétiques is a non-profit, Canadian musical collective
, which was formed in 1982
by a group of independent musicians and producers from Montreal. The entity was formed out of necessity: the avant-garde tastes of the members — which include jazz
, classical
, folk
, and rock
— proved to be too challenging for prospective distributors and commercial record labels. The result has been the creation of Canada's largest and most active label devoted to a variety of improvised musics that include jazz, avant-garde, rock, and unusual hybrids vested in improvisatory practices.
Performances from the collective during its heyday were sparse, as showcased by the 1992 CD, Une Théorie des Ensembles. But the improvising collective nonetheless succeeded in creating a wide network to support an indie music scene. The collective includes some of the most distinguished improvising musicians in Canada, including Jean Derome
, René Lussier
, Joane Hétu, and a wide range of others located not only in the Montreal scene but across Canada and internationally. The activities of the musicians originally associated with the performance collective now encompass a wide range of ensembles, live performances, and recording activities: they include the record label Ambiances Magnétiques, as well as Distributions Ambiances Magnétiques Etc. (DAME), a distribution outlet, and production companies such as Productions SuperMémé, which orchestrates concert series and events in Montreal. By late 2000, the label had 90 titles under its belt, a number that had expanded to 200 as of March 2010 with the release of Shaman, a duo recording featuring Jean Derome and Joane Hétu. Presently DAME has a musique actuelle catalogue of over 450 titles, a remarkable and diverse archive of improvised music originating largely in Canada.
The name Ambiances Magnétiques is mostly known for (and perceived as) the Montreal experimental music record label, then, but the label, which has exerted significant influence on the international improvised music scene, grew out of the specific artists' collective that preceded it. This nucleus of musicians co-created the thriving Montreal experimental and improvised music scene and have played a significant role in expanding this scene across Canada and internationally.
Ambiances Magnétiques began in 1982 when guitarist René Lussier
and saxophonist/flutist Jean Derome
presented a few duo concerts in Montreal under the name Ambiances Magnétiques (which translates literally to "Magnetic Atmospheres or Environments"). In 1983 this group teamed up with guitarist André Duchesne
and clarinetist Robert Marcel Lepage and launched the label Ambiances Magnétiques, originally an entity managed by the members of the collective to release their records, with occasional guests always having some sort of connection to the nucleus (up until the late '90s, when the label started to broaden its horizons to include Canadian and international improvising musicians of the highest calibre). In 1986, the group was extended to include Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, and Danielle P. Roger, three Québécois musicians performing together in various avant-pop girl groups (Wondeur Brass, Justine). Hétu would soon be left in charge of the label itself. Radio DJ and drummer Michel F. Côté were enlisted in 1988, and finally turntablist/record manipulator extraordinaire, Martin Tétreault (discovered accidentally as he was overheard by his unsuspecting neighbor, André Duchesne, in the late '80s) officially joined in the mid-'90s.
By 2010, Ambiances Magnétiques had established itself as one of the most important and creative contributors to improvised music-making anywhere, with a rich resource of historic recordings, the active promotion of new artists, and an open-ended philosophy of music-making primarily idenrtified as musique actuelle, a term that derives from the three main genres with which it is associated: free improvisation, jazz, and avant-garde rock.
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
, which was formed in 1982
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
by a group of independent musicians and producers from Montreal. The entity was formed out of necessity: the avant-garde tastes of the members — which include jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
— proved to be too challenging for prospective distributors and commercial record labels. The result has been the creation of Canada's largest and most active label devoted to a variety of improvised musics that include jazz, avant-garde, rock, and unusual hybrids vested in improvisatory practices.
Performances from the collective during its heyday were sparse, as showcased by the 1992 CD, Une Théorie des Ensembles. But the improvising collective nonetheless succeeded in creating a wide network to support an indie music scene. The collective includes some of the most distinguished improvising musicians in Canada, including Jean Derome
Jean Derome
Jean Derome is a French Canadian avant-garde saxophonist, flautist and composer. A prominent figure in the Montreal musique actuelle scene, Derome has been a member of a number of experimental jazz and rock groups, and has appeared on over 30 albums, including seven solo albums...
, René Lussier
René Lussier
René Lussier is a musician based in the province of Québec, Canada. He is a composer, guitarist, bass guitarist, percussionist, bass clarinetist and singer. Lussier has collaborated with such figures as Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Jean Derome and Robert M. Lepage...
, Joane Hétu, and a wide range of others located not only in the Montreal scene but across Canada and internationally. The activities of the musicians originally associated with the performance collective now encompass a wide range of ensembles, live performances, and recording activities: they include the record label Ambiances Magnétiques, as well as Distributions Ambiances Magnétiques Etc. (DAME), a distribution outlet, and production companies such as Productions SuperMémé, which orchestrates concert series and events in Montreal. By late 2000, the label had 90 titles under its belt, a number that had expanded to 200 as of March 2010 with the release of Shaman, a duo recording featuring Jean Derome and Joane Hétu. Presently DAME has a musique actuelle catalogue of over 450 titles, a remarkable and diverse archive of improvised music originating largely in Canada.
The name Ambiances Magnétiques is mostly known for (and perceived as) the Montreal experimental music record label, then, but the label, which has exerted significant influence on the international improvised music scene, grew out of the specific artists' collective that preceded it. This nucleus of musicians co-created the thriving Montreal experimental and improvised music scene and have played a significant role in expanding this scene across Canada and internationally.
Ambiances Magnétiques began in 1982 when guitarist René Lussier
René Lussier
René Lussier is a musician based in the province of Québec, Canada. He is a composer, guitarist, bass guitarist, percussionist, bass clarinetist and singer. Lussier has collaborated with such figures as Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Jean Derome and Robert M. Lepage...
and saxophonist/flutist Jean Derome
Jean Derome
Jean Derome is a French Canadian avant-garde saxophonist, flautist and composer. A prominent figure in the Montreal musique actuelle scene, Derome has been a member of a number of experimental jazz and rock groups, and has appeared on over 30 albums, including seven solo albums...
presented a few duo concerts in Montreal under the name Ambiances Magnétiques (which translates literally to "Magnetic Atmospheres or Environments"). In 1983 this group teamed up with guitarist André Duchesne
André Duchesne (musician)
André Duchesne is a Canadian experimental music guitarist and composer. He was a co-founder of Ambiances Magnétiques, a Canadian musical collective and record label, and formed several experimental music bands, including Conventum, Les 4 Guitaristes de l'Apocalypso-Bar and Locomotive...
and clarinetist Robert Marcel Lepage and launched the label Ambiances Magnétiques, originally an entity managed by the members of the collective to release their records, with occasional guests always having some sort of connection to the nucleus (up until the late '90s, when the label started to broaden its horizons to include Canadian and international improvising musicians of the highest calibre). In 1986, the group was extended to include Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, and Danielle P. Roger, three Québécois musicians performing together in various avant-pop girl groups (Wondeur Brass, Justine). Hétu would soon be left in charge of the label itself. Radio DJ and drummer Michel F. Côté were enlisted in 1988, and finally turntablist/record manipulator extraordinaire, Martin Tétreault (discovered accidentally as he was overheard by his unsuspecting neighbor, André Duchesne, in the late '80s) officially joined in the mid-'90s.
By 2010, Ambiances Magnétiques had established itself as one of the most important and creative contributors to improvised music-making anywhere, with a rich resource of historic recordings, the active promotion of new artists, and an open-ended philosophy of music-making primarily idenrtified as musique actuelle, a term that derives from the three main genres with which it is associated: free improvisation, jazz, and avant-garde rock.
See also
- René LussierRené LussierRené Lussier is a musician based in the province of Québec, Canada. He is a composer, guitarist, bass guitarist, percussionist, bass clarinetist and singer. Lussier has collaborated with such figures as Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Jean Derome and Robert M. Lepage...
, founding member of the collective - Jean DeromeJean DeromeJean Derome is a French Canadian avant-garde saxophonist, flautist and composer. A prominent figure in the Montreal musique actuelle scene, Derome has been a member of a number of experimental jazz and rock groups, and has appeared on over 30 albums, including seven solo albums...
, founding member of the collective - List of record labels
External links
- Ambiances Magnétiques Official site
- actuellecd.com Official site for DAME