The Souljazz Orchestra is a Canadian musical group based in Ottawa that has toured Canada, the United States and Europe. Their music is a fusion of soul, jazz, funk, afrobeat and Latin styles. The band has six members:
Pierre Chrétien - electric piano, clavinet, organ, guitar, bass, percussion, vocals
Marielle Rivard - percussion, vocals
Steve Patterson - tenor sax, percussion, vocals
Ray Murray - baritone sax, percussion, vocals
Zakari Frantz - alto sax, flute, percussion, vocalsPhilippe Lafrenière - drums, percussion, vocals
“I started thinking less like a jazz pianist, and more like a composer in terms of looking at the whole and not worrying about impressing anyone with my own technical know-how. That was a very important step in my own growth as a musician,” muses Pierre Chrétien, composer of The Souljazz Orchestra, as he recalls the growth of the band from jazz-funk combo to celebrated Afrobeat and Latin jazz revivalist band. However, as he’s quick to point out about Afrobeat, “It’s only an influence to our sound.”
Pierre Chrétien - electric piano, clavinet, organ, guitar, bass, percussion, vocals
Marielle Rivard - percussion, vocals
Steve Patterson - tenor sax, percussion, vocals
Ray Murray - baritone sax, percussion, vocals
Zakari Frantz - alto sax, flute, percussion, vocalsPhilippe Lafrenière - drums, percussion, vocals
“I started thinking less like a jazz pianist, and more like a composer in terms of looking at the whole and not worrying about impressing anyone with my own technical know-how. That was a very important step in my own growth as a musician,” muses Pierre Chrétien, composer of The Souljazz Orchestra, as he recalls the growth of the band from jazz-funk combo to celebrated Afrobeat and Latin jazz revivalist band. However, as he’s quick to point out about Afrobeat, “It’s only an influence to our sound.”