Biography

Composer, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and improviser, Montreal-based Philippe Côté is a musical explorer at the crossroads of jazz and classical.

Lungta, his first album of original compositions for jazz quintet and wind orchestra, was produced by world-acclaimed American saxophonist David Binney. Philippe Côté spent many years crafting the album’s intriguing jazz and classical perspective, culminating in a body of work earning critical appraisal:

“Montreal saxophonist and composer Philippe Côté’s new album Lungta is a grand, sweeping accomplishment.”

-Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen

“People who love Gil Evans and Maria Schneider will want to know about Lungta.”

-Thomas Conrad, Stereophile

Master of Music (M.Mus.), Philippe studied classical orchestration under the supervision of respected Canadian composer John Rea at McGill University. Recipient of numerous awards, notably grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Philippe’s work was shaped by his time spent in Banff with trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas, as well as his studies at the Brooklyn School of Improvisational Music. New York was also the scene of two seminal moments for the composer: his encounter with long-time mentor David Binney, and his first experience with Lennie Tristano’s teaching method, learned from one of the most prolific jazz pianists of the last decades, Marc Copland. Back in Montreal, Philippe composed for various orchestras and chamber music ensembles like Orchestre national de Jazz de Montréal and Ensemble Paramirabo. He has also been coordinating and teaching the Jazz section of the McGill Conservatory.

The 2019-2020 season will bring various new projects: the album release of an exciting collaboration between Philippe, Marc Copland, and Quatuor Saguenay as well as the first album by Philippe Côté Chamber 5tet, a group that features pianist François Bourassa and trumpeter Jacques Kuba Séguin. Philippe will also work on the composition of a long-form jazz orchestra piece featuring NYC saxophonist Donny McCaslin as a soloist commissioned by Orchestre national de Jazz de Montréal and on another commission by the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.