Nébu -

Nébu was a Québécois jazz-rock band that made the 1978–80 Cadence albums Nébu and Motus.

Members: Jean Derome (flute), Pierre Saint-Jacques [aka St-Jak] (piano), Claude Simard (bass)

Background

Nébu took shape in Montreal in 1973 when flutist Jean Derome and pianist Pierre St-Jacques developed Octogaf, a group Derome founded in 1971, into an expanded jazz ensemble. The early septet included bassist Pierre Cartier and saxophonist Robert Leriche. Nébu contracted by the mid-1970s to flutist Derome, pianist St-Jacques, and double-bassist Claude Simard.

Derome studied theory with Michel Perrault at Cégep de Saint-Laurent from 1972 to 1975, then entered the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal for flute studies with Jean-Paul Major. St-Jacques was already active in Montreal jazz and improvised music when he met Derome, then led the early Nébu septet. Simard joined the stable trio as double-bassist.

Nébu played regular Quebec dates, including Centre d’essai Le Conventum concerts on Dec. 16, 1976, and March 17–19, 1977, in Montreal. The trio traveled to France in 1977 for the Festival de musique ouverte de Châteauvallon. The trio helped found the Ensemble de musique improvisée de Montréal in 1978 with Robert Leriche and other local improvisers.

Nébu entered Studio Marko in Montreal in October 1978 to record a self-titled album for Les Disques Cadence. Nébu shared production credit with Denis Houle and René Lussier on the Cadence debut.

Discography: