Michel Cusson

As part of the Grands Spectacles series, the Rimouski International Jazz Festival, presented by Vidéotron, is proud to present a performance by the Michel Cusson Trio (7 p.m.), followed by the Alain Caron Trio & String Quartet (9 p.m.), the opening show presented by Toyota Rimouski.

Michel Cusson is a virtuoso guitarist and internationally renowned composer of film and television music. As the founder of the jazz-rock band UZEB, he made his mark on the international scene before turning to composing for film and television in the early 1990s.

Driven as always by his passion for the guitar and sonic exploration, he has just released the first three volumes of the Studio Lombard Sessions album series: *Momentum*, *Ukulimba*, and *Omerta* (Jazz Performance). He also composed the music for Diane Dufresne’s latest concept album, *État de siège*, which combines vocal power with musical sophistication. Not to mention the instrumental album *Michel Cusson Solo*, inspired by photographs found on a beach and left behind by an unknown woman.

His musical signature can be heard in several landmark works of Quebec and Canadian cinema: *Un homme et son péché* and *Maurice Richard* by Charles Binamé, as well as *Aurore* by Luc Dionne. Cusson has also collaborated on several international productions, including *Tempête* by Christian Duguay and *Père et fils* by Michel Boujenah.
He has composed the soundtracks for about ten IMAX films with global reach (Rocky Mountain Express, Rescue, Dinosaurs Alive, Superpower Dogs, The Heart of New England).

On television, he has worked on several cult series such as *Omertà*, *Unité 9*, and *Napoléon* (A&E), and is currently working on the series *Dumas* and *Antigang*. He has composed the original music for more than 600 episodes of drama series. Cusson has also collaborated on a dozen mega-productions, including Cavalia, Odysseo, ERA (Shanghai), Ulalena (Hawaii), and Vitori (Cirque du Soleil).

On stage, Cusson has performed thousands of concerts in 22 countries, both as a solo artist and with UZEB, with whom he made a highly acclaimed comeback in 2017. He is currently working on developing his new trio, VOLTAGE, a musical project that is at once organic, electric, and cinematic, which will debut on stage in 2026.

His internationally acclaimed body of work has earned him 14 Félix Awards, 10 SOCAN Awards, 6 Gémeaux Awards, 1 Jutra Award, 1 Gemini Award, and 1 Giant Screen Award. Furthermore, his exceptional contributions to the arts were recognized with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada, highlighting the major impact of his work on the industry.

This performance is included in the Passe Festi Jazz pass, which grants access to all shows.

Passe Festi Jazz