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Saxophonist, composer, arranger and producer, Eric Khayat, is a multi-instrumentalist from Quebec City who has perfected his abilities through years of stage experience. For both studio and live performance, we regularly appeal to his talent.
Altough Eric’s first contact with music was made during early childhood when he became acquainted with the piano it was at the age of eleven that he joined a drum and bugle band that launched his musical career. Leading his first jazzband at the age of sixteen, he developed a real interest for improvisation and composition. One year later, at the age of seventeen, he began to play professionally in nightclubs.
Eric arrived in Montreal in 1996, playing around the city with his newly formed Jazz quartet. Meanwhile, he also became increasingly known to the Blues community, performing with artists such as Guy Bélanger, Bob Walsh, John McGale (Offenbach), Carl Tremblay, Jean Millaire, Jimmy James and Steve Rowe with whom he played several times at the Montreal Jazz Fest.
In autumn 2001, he accepted a contract as musical director in Dubai, opportunity that served as a determining stage in his life. For more than 3 months, Eric learned profoundly from the experience on both human and professional level, perfecting his style by playing 4 sets a night, 6 nights a week.
Back in Montreal, Eric continued to learn the subtleties of different styles by playing with various musicians and groups. Because of his versatility, he appeared regularly on stage with: Dawn Tyler-Watson (Jack Paradise), Michele Sweeney, Alan Prater (Michael Jackson), Hugo Lapointe, Robert Charlebois, Claude Léveillé, Luck Mervil, Stephen Faulkner, Slim Wiliams and Boule Noire (Georges Thurston), to name a few. He also made an incursion into the world of electronic music with DJ Ram (Ramachandra Borcar), DJ Kevin Kast and Mr. Smith. To fullfill his love for Soul music, Eric signed all horn arrangements for Soul Legends, a musical review with which, as leader of the horn section, he toured twice in Europe.
Eric Khayat also made an imprint in the studio as an arranger, composer and producer. He participated among others on the soundtrack for "Un crabe dans la tête" and the opening theme for CBC’s Sofa’s, as well as arranging the theme for Hors-Jeu’s, hosted by Paul Buisson, and producing the album " A Jazzy Little Christmas ", performed by the Black Note Quartet. Eric also wrote several arrangements for the Ray Charles tribute and for Gino Quilico.
Recently, Eric was Jerry DeVilliers jr ‘s assistant for the movie "Les Boys IV", which won the Félix for “best original soundtrack” at the 2006 ADISQ gala. During the same year, Eric mixed “De bon matin”, Christine Tassan et les Imposteures first album.
During 2007 he was nominated for a Lys Blues, gala organised by LeNetBlues.Com in the category: “best performance of the year ”. In addition to his live performances, he had a number at the Just for Laugh festival as a musician, was part of Slim Williams’s Pulse of the Planet TV special, and he also scored several short movies.
Altough his influences come from a multitude of musical forms, Eric is showing us on his first solo album Revolución, his true and profound passion for Jazz.
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Live gigs / Studio sessions for:
Rick Astley, Deborah Gibson, Samantha Fox, Tiffany, Robert Charlebois, Hugo Lapointe, Claude Léveillé, Daniel Lavoie, Boule Noire, John McGale, Gino Quilico Luck Mervil, Louise Forestier, Myles Goodwyn, Dawn Tyler-Watson, Slim Williams, Esquire Show Bar - la revue musicale, Edward Ellington, April Ellington, Chantal Chamandy, Toyo, Michelle Sweeney, Alan Prater, Dessy DiLauro, Nancy Martinez, Patsy Gallant, Pierre Perpall, Jerry DeVilliers Jr, Sandra James, Benoit Gautier, Skipper Dean, Steve Rowe, Christine Tassan et les imposteures, Bob Harrison, Bob Walsh, Jean Millaire, Mr. Smith, DJ Kevin Kast, DJ Alain Vinet, Jason Bajada, Coco Thompson, Charles Biddle Jr, Stéphanie Biddle, Kim Richardson, Valérie Cormier, Sébastien DeFrancesco, James Correa, Lou Simon, Carl Tremblay, Felix Stüssi, Pierre Verville, Graham Chambers, René Dupéré, Soul Legends, Johnny Ferreira, Paul Deslauriers, Cordâme, Jean-Félix Mailloux, Sylvie Des Groseillers, Freddie James, Danny Blanco, Gala des Masques, Habana Café, Hommage à Joe Dassin, ShBoom ShBoom, Hommage à Tom Jones.
Arranger for:
Michael Dumont, Myles Goodwyn, John McGale, Michael Dozier, Jason Bajada, Gino Quilico, Gilbert Montagné, Sandra James, Pierre Perpall, Jerry DeVilliers Jr, Gala des Masques, Festival Juste pour Rire, Benoit Gauthier, Black Note Quartet, Graham Chambers, Hommage à Ray Charles, ShBoom ShBoom, Black Cat Bone, Alain Villeneuve, Steve Hanley.
Produced:
Michael Dumont, Benoit Gautier, Black Note Quartet, Gino Quilico.
Mixing for:
Michael Dumont, Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, Black Note Quartet, Benoit Gautier, Pierre Labbé, Gino Quilico.
Compositions for:
Les Boys IV / Short Movies: Ma place, Fragile, Ouvre les yeux, Avec les grands et Le match. / Commercials: Caisses populaires acadienne, Ordre des infirmiers et infirmières du Qc. / Theater Play: Le jour où le petit est parti / Corporate Video for la Ville de Montréal sur les matières résiduelles. | |
