| news | calendar | projects and bands | bio | discs | photos | videos | press | links | contact |
| current projects as a leader  
| current projects as a co-leader
   

as a leader
Sylvie Courvoisier - Lonelyville -
| Mark Feldman (violin)
| Vincent Courtois (cello)
| Ikue Mori  (electronics)
| Gerald Cleaver (drums)
| Sylvie Courvoisier (piano & compositions)

Sylvie Courvoisier’s new project is an exciting new synthesis of Avan-jazz, contemporary composition and live electronics. New York downtown musicians including electronic artist Ikue Mori and drummer Gerald Cleaver provide a dramatic rhythmic foundation; virtuoso French cellist Vincent Courtois and the American violinist Mark Feldman create textures that bring the new compositions of the pianist Sylvie Courvoisier to life in an exciting visceral way.

| recordings:
Sylvie Courvoisier “Lonelyville” ( Intakt Records, 2007)

| info about the band
| technical rider for Sylvie Courvoisier's Quintet
 
 
  | top |  
 
 
 

as a leader


Sylvie Courvoisier - piano solo-

Swiss Born Composer/improviser Sylvie Courvoisier is one of the most creative and imaginative pianists in new music.
A frequent collaborator of Mark Feldman, Ikue Mori and John Zorn, she is a member of Mephista and the leader her own quintet and the trio Abaton.

| recordings:
Sylvie Courvoisier “SIGNS AND EPIGRAMS"( Tzadik, 2007)
Here she is featured solo, focusing her unique language of extended techniques into a remarkable new classical chamber music. Mystical, moody an beautiful.

JAZZMAN - Juin 2007
**** "Signs and Epigrams"
“Collaboratrice de MARK FELDMAN, IKUE MORI ou FRED FRITH, la pianiste suisse, est, au fil des ans, devenue l’une des actrices principales de la scène downtown new-yorkaise. Cet album solo permet à SYLVIE COURVOISIER de se focaliser sur l’emploi de techniques contemporaines au clavier relevant certes plus des mondes du classique que de ceux du jazz mais les mettant au service d’une musique de chambre personnelle et sensible, tout sauf prétentieuse”.

JAZZ MAGAZINE - Juin 2007
"Signs and Epigrams" DISQUE D'EMOI
"Le premier enregistrement en solo de SYLVIE COURVOISIER révèle un abord du piano aussi libre que neuf, grâce à une constante inventivité..."


| Project solo+visuals: "Lueurs d'ailleurs"

 
 
| top |  
 
 

as a leader
Sylvie Courvoisier - Abaton -
| Sylvie Courvoisier (piano & compositions)
| Mark Feldman (violin)
| Erik Friedlander (violoncello)

“Abaton” is the name of both the album and the ensemble, the trio of Sylvie Courvoisier with Mark Feldman and Erik Friedlander, which was formed in 1998 in New York. The word Abaton is from ancient Greek and its meanings include the temple chamber - “where none may enter unbiddden” - in which initiates received visions, inspirations and renewed health. 
The Trio played widely in Europe and in the USA (Davos Festival (Switzerland), la Biennale Venice (Italy), Merkin Hall (NY), CAC (New Orleans)) …

| recordings:
Sylvie Courvoisier “ABATON” ( ECM Records, 2003 – 2cds)

"...Critics'choice 2004: Sylvie Courvoisier Abaton (ECM) -On Abaton, pianist Courvoisier and her first-call bandmates Mark Feldman (violin) and Erik Friedlander (cello) have created a masterpiece of 21st century chamber music. The two-CD set is split equally between spacious, mood-rich compositions and empathetic improvisations that hum with creative energy while defying the structures of genre. This is the fundamental definition of the contemporary avant-garde and Courvoisier's set the where it belongs."
Sam Prestianni, January 2005 jazziz

"...That Courvoisier’s music is as aesthetically beautiful as it is strange and mysterious is only further testament to her prowess as a composer. That this trio plays her music as if it has been creating it from the air is nothing short of remarkable. Abaton is Courvoisier's crowning achievement thus far, and this group points her firmly forward in a direction where everything is still possible, demonstrating that there is something new under the sun in classical music and improvisation. Perhaps Abaton is the great moment of 2003 for new classical music."
Thom Jurek, all Music guide

| technical rider for Sylvie Courvoisier's ABATON
 
 
  | top |
 
 
as a co-leader
Sylvie Courvoisier & Mark Feldman DUO
| Mark Feldman (violin)
| Sylvie Courvoisier (piano)

Since 1996, they have been performing regulary in the USA , Canada and toured widely in Europe (played in Festivals such as Willisau, Saalfelden, Mulhouse, Partheney, Shaffhouse, Muenster, Bath , Vancouver, Bordeaux...).
They perform the music of John Zorn, Masada Book II ( Book of Angels), from their new CD "Malphas" on Tzadik Records plus some of their own exciting improvisations & compositions.

| recordings:
John Zorn: MALPHAS (Tzadik Records (2006) 
John Zorn: Masada Recital (Tzadik Records, 2004) 
Mark Feldman & Sylvie Courvoisier: Music for violin and
Piano (Avan Records 1999.)

| appearances on:
Sylvie Courvoisier: ABATON (ECM Records) 
Sacha Argov: Great Jewish Music (Tzadik Records ,2003) 
Various Artists: Irving Stone Memorial Concert, (Tzadik, 2004)

| technical rider
 
  | top |  
 
  
as a co-leader
Mephista
| Sylvie Courvoisier (piano)
| Ikue Mori  (electronics)
| Susie Ibarra (drums)

Three of downtown's most dynamic performers join forces to form Mephista-one of the first all women supergroups (Susie Ibarra, Sylvie Courvoisier, and Ikue Mori). Separately these three have worked with some of the most important musicians in new music (Derek Bailey, William Parker, John Zorn, Fred Frith, Mike Patton, Dave Douglas, etc.)-together they have created a whole new kind of music spanning the worlds of rock, classical, jazz and electronica. Sensitive, powerful and exotic.

| recordings:
Entomological reflections (Tzadik Records 2004)
Black Narcissus (Tzadic,2002)

| appearances on:
Irving Stones Memorial Concert (Tzadik Records 2004)
John Zorn Masada Anniversary Voices in the Wilderness- (Tzadik Records 2003) 

| technical rider
| short bios
   
   
 
as a co-leader


Courtois-Courvoisier-Eskelin TRIO
| Vincent Courtois (cello)
|Sylvie Courvoisier (piano)
| Ellery Eskelin (sax)

Parisian cellist Vincent Courtois and New York saxophonist Ellery Eskelin met during the summer of 2000 while performing in a large ensemble project led by Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil.  Sensing an immediate musical rapport they began discussing the possibility of a collaboration.  Both musicians admired the playing of Swiss pianist Sylvie Courvoisier (now living in Brooklyn) and with her formed this group in 2002.  The ensemble was invited to debut at  Banlieues Bleues Festival in Paris and has since toured Europe in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and the United States in 2007 performing original compositions as well as completely improvised concerts.  

In the spring of 2008 the group will release it's first studio project (recorded in New York) for the  Italian CAM Jazz label entitled "As Soon As Possible".  

| recording:
As Soon As Possible (CAM, 2008)

"Music can be magic and one listen to this group quickly reveals why."  (All About Jazz New York)

"Here's three fantastic improvisers and musicians teaming for a lively, brisk trio...What may surprise the uninitiated is the depth of emotions, colors, and ideas this intimate trio can bring to its music." (Baltimore City Paper)
   
   
 
 
 
| top |