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AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS:
In 1984, the career of Montréal jazz pianist and composer Lorraine Desmarais was launched after she received the Yamaha award at the Montréal International Jazz Festival. The following year, her album Trio Lorraine Desmarais received a Félix award at the Adisq ceremony, and in 1986 she won First Prize at the Great Jazz Piano American Competition, part of the Jacksonville jazz festival in Florida. In 1991, SOCAN awarded her its Composers' Prize for her album Vision, and in 2002 she received the Oscar Peterson Award from the Montréal International Jazz Festival.
In 2004, she received an award for the artistic creation from the Quebec Council for the arts and letters.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS:
Lorraine Desmarais is recognized in Québec, and around the world, as an outstanding jazz pianist and also as a composer. Her original works, performed in solo or trio formations, have earned her initiations to appear at many different jazz festivals and venues, including the international jazz festivals in Jakarta (Indonesia) and Saint-Louis (Senegal), Women in Jazz (Washington), March of Jazz (Florida), the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier (Languedoc-Roussillon), the Jazz Days International Festival (Moscow), the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival (Ireland), the Tron Jazz Club (Scotland), the Club de Jazz Le Travers (Belgium), the Aarhus Jazz Festival (Denmark), the Parc Floral (Paris), the Café des Anges jazz club (Strasburg), the Blue Note et Birdland jazz clubs (New York), a tour of festivals in Western Canada (Westcan Tour), the Festival International du Domaine Forget, and the Montréal International Jazz Festival.
Lorraine

RECORDINGS:
Lorraine Desmarais has recorded seven albums as a solo performer and musical director, including several with well-known artists such as Michel Cusson and Michel Donato (Vision), Tiger Okoshi (Lorraine Desmarais), Don Alias (Andiamo), André Moisan, Jean Gaudreault and Ted Baskin from the OSM and Michel Bettez from the Orchestre Métropolitain (Bleu Silence), in addition to her long-standing team of Frédéric Alarie (double bass) and Camil Bélisle (drums).

She has also recorded three albums as a sidewoman: with the New York-based all-women big band Diva (I believe in You), with the US quintet Five Play (On the Brink), and for an album by Jim Corcoran (Entre Tout et Moi).
A video, Lorraine Desmarais trio avec Tiger Okoshi, was shot at the Lion D'Or club in Montréal.
JOINT APPEARANCES:
In addition to her recordings, Lorraine Desmarais has made concert appearances with musicians from around the world, including pianists Joanne Brackeen and Marian McPartland, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, saxophonists Paquito D'Rivera, Jane Bunnett and Jean-Pierre Zanella, bass player Alain Caron, cellist Éric Longsworth, drummer Guy Nadon, and singers Ranee Lee and Karen Young. She also appeared in a memorable concert at the Montréal jazz festival, 4 Pianos , which featured Lorraine Desmarais, François Bourassa, James Gelfand and Vic Vogel, and an equally impressive concert with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal conducted by Simon Leclerc.
A highly versatile and exceptionally creative artist, Lorraine Desmarais has also been invited to work with Québec pop artists such as Sylvain Cossette, Jim Corcoran, Michel Rivard and Bruno Pelletier in stage shows (Place Des Arts) and TV broadcasts (TV5).
COMPOSITIONS:
Lorraine Desmarais has composed a Sonata for Flute and Piano (1995) for the excellent duettists Lise Daoust et Louise Bessette, which they perform on their recording Rhythm 'n Flute. Pianist Oliver Jones also offers a brilliant interpretation of Odalisque, composed specially for him by Lorraine Desmarais, on the album Oliver Jones Just In Time.
FILM MUSIC:
Lorraine Desmarais has also ventured into the area of film music, composing music for the film Onzième Spéciale, directed by Micheline Lanctôt for Max Film productions, and for two NFB productions, Les Pouvoirs de l'Âge and And The Day Will Come.
RADIO HOSTING:
During the summer of 2000, the Radio-Canada Première Chaîne service presented a show called Lorraine Desmarais reçoit, a one-hour encounter with an artist, featuring a character sketch, anecdotes, and improvised duets on works by the guest artist. The show produced some unforgettable moments.
Lorraine Desmarais has always believed strongly in the need to raise the profile of jazz music, and she has produced a solo lecture-concert called The Evolution of Jazz Piano. From ragtime to no time, via boogie woogie and fusion, the show demystifies jazz music by commenting on carefully selected pieces of music. It has been presented throughout the country.

Lorraine Desmarais holds a Master's degree in classical piano. She is a jazz piano professor at the Cégep Saint-Laurent in Montréal.