Pierre Leduc

Leduc, Pierre

Leduc, Pierre. Pianist, composer, arranger, b Montreal 27 Jul 1941; B MUS (Montreal) 1977. Leduc was a pupil of Auguste Descarries and studied 1956-7 at the CMM and 1971-7 at the University of Montreal. At 14 he was an accompanist in Montreal cabarets, and at 16 he began playing jazz under the influence of Erroll Garner. Leduc emerged as a major figure among Montreal jazz musicians during the 1960s, an original player whose 'adventurous piano approach reflects an understanding of the values inherent in such diverse pianists as Lennie Tristano, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk and Cecil Taylor' (John Norris, Coda, Aug 1972), though his classical training also was apparent. With his own group (variously a trio, quartet, or quintet) he played in clubs (eg, Tête de l'Art 1962-3, Jazz Hot 1963-5, the Jazztek in the late 1960s), at the Montreal jazz festivals of the day (accompanying Coleman Hawkins in 1963), and at Expo 67. He also worked with Walter Boudreau and Lee Gagnon and was heard frequently on CBC radio's 'Jazz en liberté'.

After a 100-concert tour, 1969-70 for JMC (YMC), Leduc moved from jazz to pop music, working both for the CBC and as music director 1970-2 for Claude Léveillée and 1973-6 for Ginette Reno and as an accompanist for Angèle Arsenault, Edith Butler, François Dompierre, Diane Dufresne, and Jean-Pierre Ferland. In 1983 he returned to jazz, serving the FIJM for several years as the host pianist for its 'after hours' jam sessions, first at the Hotel du Parc (where he initiated a year-round jazz policy that continued until 1987) and later at the Hôtel Méridien. Leduc appeared at the FIJM proper in 1985. He has written several pieces for jazz group (including Synchronisation, recorded also by Boudreau), scores for CBC TV dramas by Marie-Claire Blais, Michel Tremblay, Paul Dupuis, and others, the music for Pauline Julien's song 'La Croqueuse de 222,' and arrangements for Léveillée and Reno. Leduc has taught 1976-81 at the UQAM, 1980-3 at the Drummondville Cegep, and, beginning in 1984, at the University of Montreal.