Based in Montreal since 1984, Yves Léveillé is a celebrated pianist and composer renowned for bridging the gap between cerebral complexity and lyrical beauty. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has released nine original albums on the Effendi and ATMA Classique labels, earning critical acclaim and prestigious honors, including the 2018 André Gagnon Prize and the 2023 Opus Award for Creation of the Year for L’Échelle du temps.
Léveillé is a master of collaboration, frequently partnering with international artists like Japanese pianist Eri Yamamoto and American multi-instrumentalist Paul McCandless. His work often defies genre boundaries, such as the woodwind-focused Essences des bois and the intercultural Japan Project. A prolific performer, he has toured extensively across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia, including a massive 17-city tour of China with the trio En Trois Couleurs.
Beyond the stage, Léveillé is a vital architect of the jazz community. He founded Productions Yves Léveillé (PYL) to produce contemporary jazz concerts and residencies, such as the Bourdonnements Jazz series at Théâtre Outremont. He also shares his expertise as a lecturer at UQAM and co-produces the Jazz@vue television series. Whether composing for string quintets or arranging for renowned singers like Marie-Thérèse Fortin, Léveillé remains a tireless seeker of “jazz beauty,” blending traditional aesthetics with modern innovation.
Check out: “Choregraphie” “U BAHN”
