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This project was made possible by funding through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy and the Heritage Policy Branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Canadian Heritage

Michel Cote

Biography

MICHEL COTE (saxophonist, clarinetist, maïkotronist, trumpeter, eumphoniumist, composer, instrument designer) was born on November 3, 1951 in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. The son of a professional saxophonist/trumpeter, Côté is a self-taught, multi-talented musician known for his lyrical playing style. As a composer, saxophonist and low-clarinetist, with a focus primarily on jazz and creative music, he has played and/or recorded with Bill Dixon, Lee Konitz, Dick Griffin, Warren Smith, Alan Broadbent, Bobby Shew, Gene Bertoncini, John Pisano, Rich Matteson, Elek Backsik, Graham Haynes, Yvan Symonds, and many others.

Côté has been active in the world of jazz and improvised music for the past 35 years. As leader of his own groups, he has created original, intense and eloquent music, touring extensively throughout North America and abroad in France, Switzerland, and Africa.

During the course of his career, he has participated in more than 30 notable recorded broadcasts on Radio-Canada, CBC’s Jazz Beat, Silence on Jazz, Jazz sur le vif, and Espace Musique. Always embracing new experiences, Côté has also ventured into theatre and contemporary music, and in the past few years has been developing his interest in traditional African music.

Michel Côté is a member of a dozen different professional ensembles, performing music from Bossa Nova to improvised “New Thing” Jazz.