Loïc Dequidt is a French pianist and composer living in Sweden. See quotes and reviews below, check out the media and the project pages and contact us for booking!
On Loïc Dequidt
“I was very impressed by his talent and his involvement in music. (…) In my opinion, he is one of the more interesting pianist of his generation.”
– Enrico Rava – 1998
“Mr. Dequidt is a beautiful musician. (…) On top of it he is a very beautiful person with a great musical culture.”
– Enrico Rava – May 2004
“I have always been struck by the highly creative aspect of his playing, the inventiveness of his compositions, and his enthusiasm for committing himself to the most original projects. (…) Constantly seeking to confront new experiences, Mr. Loïc Dequidt has already found his own means of expression.”
— François Jeanneau, 2004
On ‘Intertwined‘ by The Opposite (KOPACD027)
“‘Intertwined’ received the ”Best Jazz album of 2009” award at the Swedish indie awards, Manifestgalan. The jury’s motivation:
”This year’s winner is rewarded for how they, with a fearless and uncompromising attitude, manage to combine ethereal airiness and rhythmic complexity in their driving and searching take on jazz, as genuine and unpredictable in its collective base as in the individual, dazzling solos.”
– ”Best Jazz album of 2009” award at Manifestgalan (Swedish indie awards)
“Their music is strikingly convincing, despite traces here and there of a certain formalism that never undermines the forward-looking nature of their approach. It even deserves the attention of listeners most eager for unformatted music, who will surely notice the predominant element: the players’ deep commitment, both in the group sound and in the act of playing itself.
Everything suggests that for these young Scandinavian musicians—who have chosen to step outside the path laid by their ECM-influenced elders without falling into radical free jazz—their proximity to the M-Base aesthetic is merely a necessary, yet temporary, phase along the way to a creativity that is unmistakably their own, one that promises to endure and will be a pleasure to follow closely.”
– Thierry Quénum / Jazz magazine-Jazzman(F) – Choc! (record of the month)
”Bang, ‘Intertwined’ is a one-two punch. This sextet is playing what here in Quebec we call musique actuelle: creative, funny music built on confrontations, childlikeness, virtuosity, and byplays. Think Fred Frith or René Lussier. This is a total surprise and I’m completely won over. Discover them too!”
– François Couture / blog.monsieurdelire.com (Canada)
”If someone were to ask, I would call this progressive, electric jazz/rock. Each piece involves a different strategy or structure. You can tell that a good deal of time went into composing and learning these demanding pieces which seem effortless at times. The Opposite is an original and a most gifted sextet.”
– Bruce Lee Gallanter / Downtown Music Gallery, NYC (USA)
“The music pulls in several directions and refines contrasting emotional states—from the meditative to the frenetic, from the lyrically clear to a searching roughness.
Brilliant solo contributions push against the rhythmic framework, yet the expression is so tightly knit that its inner tensions become part of the group’s shared momentum. The musical exchange contains unexpected angles, shaped within a richly nuanced dialectic.”
– Magnus Eriksson / Svenska Dagbladet (S)
On ‘In Action’ by The Opposite (KOPACD039)
“The music is magnificent: complex, determined, tightly structured yet permissive. On record, this rich soundscape — both lyrical and frenetic — opens itself to associations with striking visual power.
A young listener nearby exclaimed after just five seconds: ‘It’s The Opposite!’ — such is the distinctive approach the group has established, not least rhythmically.
(…) Here, one is easily captivated.”
– Sven Bjerstedt / Kristiansbladet (S)
On ‘Nomade‘ by Loïc Dequidt Quartet (KOPACD022)
“Clear and penetrating ballads, medium-tempo pieces that hit with purpose, and flowing dynamics grounded on a solid foundation — the quartet’s repertoire is entirely composed by pianist Loïc Dequidt. The music is precise, sensitive, and richly written: spacious, energetic, and multifaceted. A former student of François Jeanneau (at the Paris Conservatoire), Dequidt has long been inspired by diverse musical traditions, from Ethiopia to Scandinavia. His travels — reflected in the album’s title — are palpable in the music.
Recorded at Château Burlesque in Malmö, this debut album is sure to captivate fans of northern jazz.”
– Lorraine Soliman / Jazz Magazine (F)
“Pianist Loïc Dequidt continues his Nordic wanderings with this new album, ‘Nomade’. Is it the walks in the snow that give the piano its crystalline quality (Final Play, Amhara)? Dequidt further explores the path opened with his first record, ‘Layers’, crafting a post-romantic jazz that drifts into reverie before plunging into urgency.
On the slower pieces, the group explores a more personal voice (the tranquil meanderings of ‘Amhara’…). Most striking is the track ‘Nordique’, an ecstatic soundscape where the saxophone, like rusted metal, lets out expansive laments across the magnificent fog conjured by the other three musicians — a tender crescendo swelling with passion.”
– Marc Sarrazy / Improjazz (F)
“French pianist brings together Europe’s elite:
Loïc Dequidt’s quartet album, ‘Nomade’, stands out convincingly through its very performance. (…) Together, they form an outstanding quartet, giving full justice to the album’s six tracks. All are composed by Dequidt, who also shines as an exceptional soloist. (…) Listeners can quickly become familiar with the music on its own terms, precisely because it asserts itself so convincingly in performance.”
– Boris Rabinowitsch / Politiken (DK)
“Dequidt’s playing is impressionistic, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as Ethiopian music and Gypsy traditions. The two Swedish musicians, Hjorth and Nilsson (…) are rightly among Sweden’s most sought-after players. Their understanding and sensitivity to Dequidt’s reflective compositions is exemplary.
Throughout the album, hints of Nordic inspiration emerge — as in the track ‘Amhara’ — yet a warmth is carefully woven into the characteristic Nordic coolness.”
– JazzNyt (DK)
“Album of the Week: On [the album], listeners can engage with the equally remarkable and idiosyncratic pianist Loïc Dequidt, who left France and settled in Malmö five years ago, thanks to a local connection in Skåne. Thank you! Dequidt’s music is hard to describe. At times, it sounds like Monk and Satie simultaneously — cheeky, unpredictable, and beautiful.
On ‘Nomade’, Loïc is joined by the same musicians he toured so successfully with last autumn. On saxophone is Scottish player Tommy Smith, who made his breakthrough as a member of Gary Burton’s quartet at age 18, and who, in many ways, shares Dequidt’s spirit — delightfully unpredictable. Behind them, Tommy and Loïc have the tightest rhythm section imaginable: bassist Mattias Hjorth and drummer Peter Nilsson. One would likely have to cross the Atlantic to find better, more responsive support.
The music on ‘Nomade’ is varied and entirely composed by Loïc. Original ballads and lively tracks mingle freely, resulting in an album that is extremely appealing.”
– Jan Olson / Skånska Dagbladet (S)
“The titles of Loïc Dequidt’s albums are almost programmatic. On the trio album Layers, the music was built in strata that intertwined or created charged contrasts. On his new album, the quartet recording Nomade, the music roams more freely. Even when Dequidt stubbornly repeats a pared-down tone sequence, as in Final Play, the music opens up spatially.
Saxophonist Tommy Smith moves between the meditative and the hard-bop heavy, yet always in nuanced concord with Dequidt’s searching piano figures, Mattias Hjorth’s sensuous bass lines, and Peter Nilsson’s open rhythmic approach. The music fuses impressions from many directions into a deeply distinctive whole.”
– Magnus Eriksson / Svenska Dagbladet (S)
On live concerts
“Loïc Dequidt takes jazz a step further:
Loïc Dequidt has created a homogeneous, tightly written, richly resonant and at times starkly beautiful music, which borrows influences from various places and really deserves its own new stylistic label. (…) The strength here lies in the originality and the coherent fusion of different genres. (…) What remains to be wished for is a recording. Works this new need several listenings for one to fully grasp them.”
– Alexander Agrell / Sydsvenskan – October 2017 – concert with Loïc Dequidt Ensemble ‘Nuances’
“A Multinational Jazz Summit:
(…) A meeting of jazz heavyweights, ‘Nomade’ brings together two vividly expressive leaders on the same stage. (…) The music is clothed in a highly original style. (…) His suites and pared-down piano approach, despite numerous cross-references, remain refreshingly undefinable. (…) Smith’s understated stage presence is somewhat surprising, given the power he can summon. He is far from passive; his restraint prevents the ensemble’s delicate balance from being disturbed. His tenor saxophone navigates long passages seamlessly and executes high cascades without losing its soft tone.
The rhythm section — Mattias Hjorth on bass and Peter Nilsson on drums — alternately enhances the flavor and delivers standalone highlights, never losing energy while supporting or paving the way for soloists. Often, what works best is what is least noticed, and this is particularly true of Nilsson’s drumming. He guides the wild melodic soloists safely home, marking sections across the layers of composition and improvisation, while Hjorth defines the harmonic space. Hjorth is also a notably melodic bassist, and the interplay with Nilsson, honed across multiple projects, is clearly evident.
Simply put, jazz doesn’t get much better than this.”
– Pierre Martin / Västerbottens-Kuriren (S) – October 2007 – concert with Loïc Dequidt Quartet feat. T.Smith
“[Dequidt] composes exciting and personal contemporary jazz and plays piano with great clarity, fluidity, and temperament.”
– Alexander Agrell / Sydsvenskan (S) – September 2007 – concert with Loïc Dequidt Quartet feat. T.Smith
On ‘Layers’ by Loïc Dequidt Trio (KOPACD011):
“One of the most discreet and interesting French pianists of his generation releases his first trio album. A small event for those who have followed him through his Scandinavian and Yemeni wanderings. For others, it is an opportunity to discover music that is exciting in its construction and astonishing in its orchestral dimension. Fans of Erik Satie will appreciate an aesthetic approach of rare elegance and authenticity, partly due to the sound of the rhythm section, both rigorous and inventive. The trio jazz format, however, feels somewhat cramped, especially on Liten Visa Till Sophia, and one can easily imagine most of the compositions evolving within a larger orchestra. Limited resources or an aesthetic choice, this album at least has the merit of offering a convincing stylistic counterpoint to the far too many jazz trios released in recent years.”
– Guillaume Bregeras / Jazzman (F), February 2007
“In the best moments, something passes through this music (‘L’herbe rouge I’, ‘Gnossopédie’…), something intangible, something that matters… Perhaps simply beauty.”
– Marc Sarrazy / Improjazz (F), February 2008
“Dequidt’s playing is vital at every moment. (…) The music is original, unrestrained in its search for different paths, and profoundly fascinating.”
– Magnus Eriksson / Svenska Dagbladet
“Dequidt’s first opus is a strong and innovative demonstration of fine style and an exciting exploration of variation (…). Each piece unfolds with a dramatic richness of sound, making this inspired music an energizing injection for the engaged listener’s soul.”
– Göran A. Nilsson / Sydsvenskan
“Loïc Dequidt’s playing is lyrical and sparks the imagination. There is beauty in his expression even when the improvisations overflow. Listen to ‘Élégie’, where every note leads somewhere. Following meditative introductions, beautiful melodies emerge, supported by the rhythm section. A strong debut.”
– Jan Backenroth / Skaraborgs Allehanda (S)
“‘Layers’ demands a lot of its listener, with a potential to grow for every time you listen to it. When you have done it, something big grows up.”
– Mats Palmquist / Lira (S)
“This is music you want to be wrapped in, go into and feel how it grows and pulsates.”
– Tor-Björn Lyrhed – Linköpings-Posten (S)
“Layers is an album that I’ve come to truly appreciate over time. An early favorite was ‘Gnossopédie’ (…) There is something appealingly dramatic about this piece, and Dequidt’s playing is on the whole often dramatic and kind of declaiming. A record that deserves to be listened to.”
– Jörgen Östberg – OJ (S)