Jacques Demierre is a pianist, composer and improviser. Whether acoustic or electroacoustic, respectful of the frames of traditional writing or freely improvised, his experimentations can be music just as well as sound poetry and sound interventions in situ. They are nonetheless all moved by the same search for awareness of sound.
Author of numerous pieces for ensemble or voice, the composer Demierre also readily explores the evocative force of the most quotidian noises. While expanding the sound possibilities offered by the piano instrument, Jacques Demierre explores ways in which it approaches the field of language. His critical reflection develops a highly transversal and “interdisciplinary” conception of music, which has brought him to work with a number of musicians from very diverse backgrounds.
Solo or group projects – as composer, pianist or vocal performer – in Europe, United States, South America, Russia, Japan, Canada. Live events alternate between concerts and sound performances, audio pieces, collaborative performances, site-specific installations.
Intense and continued activity for several years in a duo with Vincent Barras in the field of sound poetry. Frequent collaborations with Chris Mann, Caroline Bergvall, L’Encyclopédie de la parole, Christian Kesten.
Interdisciplinary projects with choreographers Noemi Lapzeson, Cindy van Acker, Foofwa d’Immobilité.
As a pianist: collaborations with Barre Philips, Urs Leimgruber, Thomas Lehn, Axel Dörner, Jonas Kocher, Christian Marclay, Martial Solal, Radu Malfatti, Joëlle Léandre, Fritz Hauser, Andrea Parkins, Sainkho Namtchylak, Lou Mallozzi, Urs Blöchlinger, Irene Schweizer, Hans Koch, Isabelle Duthoit, John Butcher, Brandon Labelle, Jason Kahn, Charlotte Hug, Butch Morris, Roger Turner, Okkyung Lee, Peter Evans, Carlos Zingaro, Gunter Müller, Jaap Blonk, Barry Guy, Lucas Niggli, Sylvie Courvoisier, Hann Bennink, Rhodri Davis, Martin Schütz, Paul Lovens, Doro Schürch, Phil Minton, Elliott Sharp.
Co-founder with Philippe Albera and Vincent Barras of the Contrechamps Review and Editions, dedicated to the music of the XXth and XXIst centuries, Jacques Demierre is the 2007 laureate of the Ville de Genève Music Award and laureate of the Swiss Music Prize 2018.
His work is published by Tzadik, Héros-Limite, Psi, Victo, jazzwerkstatt, Leo, Plainisphare, Creative Sources, INSUB., Intakt, Bocian Records, bardem, Unit Record, stv/ams, and his scores are available from SME/EMS.
web presences
website
albums from pyr
pyr311 – Baroque Summer (with Brice Catherin, Anouck Genthon, and Matthias Klenota)
pyr224 – bimo (with Brice Catherin)