New Zealand-born jazz trumpet player Lex French is fast becoming a bright star on the Canadian jazz scene and has been hailed by CBC-RadioCanada jazz critic Stanley Pean as “an extraordinary trumpeter.” Lex possesses a unique voice on the trumpet and plays with technical virtuosity and abiding musical inventiveness, often being compared to legendary trumpeters Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Kenny Wheeler. He has over 100 recording credits as a sideman, and over the course of his 20-year career, he has collaborated with jazz luminaries such as Diana Krall, Aaron Parks, Patti Austin, Bennie Maupin, Kurt Elling, Christine and Ingrid Jensen, Charles McPherson, Camille Thurman, Charles Tolliver, Ira Coleman, David Binney, Gary Versace, Sam Newsome, Darrell Green, and John Hollenbeck. Lex is also an internationally sought-after composer and arranger and has recently been commissioned to write works for jazz orchestra, jazz quartet, and string quartet. He has released two albums as a leader: Prevent the Future (2017), The Cut (2014) and his most recent project includes original compositions inspired by the visual arts, poetry,folk songs from around the world, and jazz standards , all played by a band of Montreal jazz luminaries. Lex is a respected educator, and a sought-after band-director and clinician. He currently works at the Schulich School of Music Montreal and holds a Doctorate of Music degree from McGill University. Photos by Gryphon Hudson, Leah Russell