Lorraine Desmarais
A French-Canadian jazz pianist whose compositions weave classical intricacy with improvisational fire, creating a lush and dynamic musical language all her own.
Born 1956 (age 70)·Jazz pianist and composer·Birthday: August 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Lorraine Desmarais commands the piano with a technique that is both formidable and deeply expressive, placing her at the forefront of Canadian jazz for decades. Emerging from Montreal's vibrant scene, she distinguished herself not just as a performer but as a composer of ambitious works, from intimate trio settings to full orchestral collaborations. Her music refuses to be pigeonholed, drawing from post-bop, classical forms, and global rhythms to create a sound that is cerebral yet viscerally exciting. Desmarais has led her own groups for years, recording albums that are events in the jazz world, and her dedication to music education has shaped new generations of players. In recognition of her artistic contributions, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, a testament to her status as a national cultural treasure.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Lorraine was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lorraine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Lorraine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2017 for her contributions as a jazz pianist and composer.
- Has released over a dozen albums as a bandleader, featuring her original compositions and arrangements.
- Composed and performed a concerto for jazz trio and symphony orchestra, showcasing her fusion of classical and jazz disciplines.
- Won the Prix Oscar-Peterson and has been a multiple-time recipient of the Félix Award for Jazz Album of the Year.
Did You Know?
She is a graduate of the Vincent-d'Indy School of Music and the Université de Montréal.
Desmarais has performed at major jazz festivals worldwide, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival numerous times.
She has collaborated with renowned bassist and composer Charles Mingus's widow, Sue Mingus, on projects.
In addition to performing, she has taught jazz piano at the university level.
“Jazz is a conversation where the piano speaks in many voices.”
