Jean-Michel Pilc

• Name — Jean-Michel Pilc • Born — 19 October 1960 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Piano • Label — Motéma, Dreyfus, Sunnyside, Storyville • Website — jeanmichelpilc.com

A native of Paris, Pilc moved to New York City in 1995. He started a trio with drummer Ari Hoenig and bassist François Moutin that released the album Together: Live at Sweet Basil (A Records, 2000). Pilc has also performed at Birdland, the Blue Note, and Knitting Factory. He signed a multi-record contract with Dreyfus, which released his album Welcome Home with the same trio in 2002. His next album, Cardinal Points (Dreyfus, 2003) was selected by JazzTimes magazine as one of the top fifty albums of the year. The album included Pilc's long composition "Trio Sonata". which was funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Pilc and his trio were recorded live at Iridium Jazz Club in October 2004. The resulting live album was released by Dreyfus in October 2005. He released New Dreams with this trio in 2007, also on the Dreyfus label. He was music director for Harry Belafonte and has composed music for films. He has worked with John Abercrombie, Richard Bona, Michael Brecker, André Ceccarelli, Roy Haynes, Daniel Humair, Dave Liebman, Michel Portal, Aldo Romano, Martial Solal, and Jean Toussaint. In 2002 he received the Django Reinhardt Prize from the French Jazz Academy.

Pilc has taught at New York University, in New York, USA, and currently teaches at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He has two children.