ERIC KHAYAT (SAXOPHONIST, COMPOSER)

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Saxophonist, composer, arranger and producer, Eric Khayat, is a multi-instrumentalist from Quebec City, Canada 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, Canada in 1996, playing around the city with his newly formed Jazz quartet. Meanwhile, he also became increasingly known to the Blues community, performing with the top cats of Quebec Blues scene.

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.

Eric Khayat is a creator who is pushing the envelope with passion. His curiosity about life leads him to evolve, to never stay at the same level.

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.

ERIC KHAYAT - REVOLUCION (2008)

Revolución proposes 7 compositions that draw their influence from a long trip in Cuba. Like musical postcards, they relate the emotions and impressions that I experienced during my trip. All the pieces have been composed over a three-month period; some in Cuba, others when I returned home to Montreal

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