Jazz pianist and composer Simon Denizart has just announced the release date for his fifth full-length Piece Of Mind, previewed by the intoxicating and mysterious new instrumental Speedball — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The French-born, Montreal-based musician’s fourth advance single from the album, Speedball mixes enticing piano melodies and stuttering drum beats to draw the listener in with hypnotic energy. “Speedball is a track that immerses you in raw emotion and makes you feel the rush of the unknown,” he says. “Through dynamic rhythms and staccato melodies, this song captures the essence of adrenalin and the giddiness of risk-taking.”
Speedball follows up the recent releases 35 Years of Mistakes, Music Box and 9-4, all of which will appear on the virtuoso’s upcoming full-length Piece of Mind, due March 29 via Justin Time Records.
Originally from Créteil, Denizart arrived in Montreal in 2011 and wasted no time in getting his music heard. Working with the Canadian label The 270 Sessions, he produced Between Two Worlds (2015), Beautiful People (2016) and Darkside (2017). This period earned him the Radio-Canada Revelation award in 2016 and two ADISQ nominations in 2017 and 2018. Released in 2021 on the Laborie Jazz label, his fourth album Nomad offers a dynamic and original encounter between the piano and the calabash. It was also nominated for an ADISQ award in the Album of the Year – Jazz category.
Piece Of Mind aims to be his most innovative yet, with influences borrowed from jazz, classical and electronic music. Always eager to develop new sounds and sonorities with the piano, Simon offers solid melodic and rhythmic playing. On the album, he is supported by his long-time collaborators Elli Miller Maboungou on percussion and Michel Medrano Brindis on drums. Jonathan Arseneau’s electric bass brings an unrivaled groove to the compositions and sometimes transforms into an electric guitar thanks to his palette of effects. Finally, the string trio present on half of the compositions transports the listener into the cinematic universe of the French pianist.
Check out Speedball above, sample more from Simon Denizart below, and get a piece of his mind at website, Facebook and Instagram.
