Alto and soprano saxophonist, composer and improviser François Carrier was awarded the Juno Award for "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" in March 2001 for his Compassion album on Naxos Jazz.
In his 30 years musical career François has played in numerous jazz festivals around the world, including the "Festival de Jazz de Montreux", the "Jazz à Vienne" in France, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Jazzmandu Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Jazz Festival, to name a few.
In 2002 François stayed six months in the Quebec Studio in Rome, where he composed new works and got acquainted with the Italian musical milieu.
So far, François has released more than 19 CDs widely acclaimed from both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the Far East on labels such as Justin-Time Records, Spool Records, Leo Records (UK), Ayler Records (Sweden), Naxos Jazz, 482 Music (Chicago). He has played and recorded with jazz giants such as Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, Bobo Stenson, Tomasz Stanko, Uri Caine, Jason Moran, Dewey Redman, Mat Maneri, Sonny Greenwich, Jean-Jacques Avenel, Pierre Côté and has been a long time collaborator with drummer Michel Lambert. Together, Michel and François have toured in several occasions in Europe, Asia and Canada.
In February 2008, the British label FMR Records has released the outstanding "Kathmandu" recorded live in Nepal in October 2006. In June 2008 Leo Records released "Within", Carrier's 11th album with his guests Michel Lambert and French bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel. In August, Ayler Records released a Digital Box Set of 7 live recordings showcasing different groups from Carrier. In March 2009 the Portuguese label Creative Sources Recordings released a beautiful studio recording duet album titled "Nada". In 2010 François will be the guest of Swiss Improv signer Véronique Dubois on a new ColyaKooMusic / Leo Records release titled "Being With". Later he will release an amazing live recording with guest pianist Bobo Stenson on Ayler Records.
This year will be as productive with 3 new albums coming out of 3 consecutive concerts in Moscow and St-Petersburg, Russia in December 2010. Then François is now living in London at the Quebec Artist Residency from the CALQ.
Every life form in the universe is a source of vibration, hence music. So let's sing, dance and play to the sounds of Life. F.C.
