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Go to http://jazzheaven.com/jmp for more FREE Jean-Michel Pilc Videos! This was an excerpt from Jean Michel's Jazz Improvisation Lesson/Masterclass video "True Jazz Improvisation." Jam-packed Jazz Improvisation Lessons: 2h Lesson, 60min Interview, PDFs & more.

Click on http://jazzheaven.com - other killer jazz improvisation instructional videos with KENNY WERNER, JERRY BERGONZI, ERIC HARLAND, LAGE LUND, Lee Konitz, Walt Weiskopf, Vince Herring and MORE.
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Born in 1960 in Paris, and now an American citizen, self-taught, Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous giants in the music field such as: Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Rick Margitza, Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett, Lenny White, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Mingus Dynasty & Big Band, Lew Soloff and Richard Bona. He has also worked with Harry Belafonte, as his musical director and pianist.
Jean-Michel Pilc moved to New York City in 1995. There, he formed a 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: Jean-Michel Pilc Trio - Together - Live at Sweet Basil, NYC - Vol. 1 & 2 (A- Records).
Pilc then signed a record deal with Dreyfus Jazz. Pilc's first album for Dreyfus, Welcome Home (featuring the same trio), was released in 2002.
Pilc's next recording for Dreyfus, Cardinal Points, was released the following year. It featured Jean-Michel's extended work Trio Sonata, which was created with generous support from Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation and Presentation Program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
In 2004, Jean- Michel released his first solo album, Follow Me (Dreyfus). Jean-Michel Pilc then went back to trio format to record Live at Iridium, NYC, in 2004, New Dreams in 2006,and True Story in 2009, all three for Dreyfus Jazz.
There is also a documentary out by John McCormick about Jean-Michel titled "Jean-Michel Pilc -- A Portrait" which was released in the US in 2009.
In 2009 Pilc received his second New Works: Creation and Presentation Grant from Chamber Music America. His new project has been the writing and performance of "Modern Lights" -- a composition reflecting Charlie Chaplin's work, and the inspiration Pilc has gained from his movies. The project was premiered at the Caramoor Jazz Festival in August 2009.
Since 2006, he is a NYU Steinhardt faculty member. There, he is giving private lessons (piano and other instruments), ensemble classes and improvisation workshops. He was also co-director of NYU Summer Jazz Improv Workshop in 2010. Jean-Michel is also teaching for the New School in NYC, as well as privately.
Pilc is also currently working on a pedagogical book and on educational videos about jazz, improvisation and piano playing.
Pilc's next albums will be released on the Motema label, one solo live and one featuring his legendary trio with François Moutin & Ari Hoenig, which has re-formed in 2010 under the collective name Pilc Moutin Hoenig.

QUOTES
A dazzlingly inventive pianist.
Nate Chinen, The New York Times
Jean-Michel Pilc belongs right in the front row.
John Fordham, Guardian Unlimited (UK, **** review)
One of the astounding jazz piano trios of the past decade.
Don Williamson, Jazz Review
Mr Pilc seems to have dropped from the sky fully formed, with technique and
his ideas in place. He is a physical and densely harmonic player, a splashy
stunner who also has a Rubik's-cube mind for chord substitutions.
Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
...visual art references come to mind: Cubist renderings of melody in which the
original is reshaped into a completely different visual perspective; the
shimmering opaqueness of Impressionism in some of Pilc's lush harmonies...
Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
...make no mistake about it, to his credit, Mr. Pilc is very unique... I would say that this trio
starts at Mars, and then goes from there. Don't expect anything resembling conventional
interpretations. This is fascinating and rewarding music...
Rick Helzer, Jazz Improv
While never dry or abstract, Pilc is a model for playing a little to say a lot.
Mark Keresman, Jazziz
...ridiculously well-balanced, and trading in the kind of grace that still has the power to
shake a room. Keith Jarrett found something similar... Pilc's nudging it a bit further down the line.
Down Beat, four Star Hot Box review

Hope you enjoyed this Jean-Michel Pilc video on Jazz Improvisation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfLRjMHe0So