Band members
Ben Gilbert leads and composes the music for Cope Land, as well as writing lyrics, playing guitar, singing and rapping within the group. Always a sponge to a very wide variety of music, he brings these multiple influences together within this project. Born and raised in Montreal, he in formally trained in both classical and jazz guitar, from both the Montreal Conservatory of Music and Mcgill University, which eventually led to a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance. Over the years he has played in many different contexts, within projects such as Stars Die and Booster Fawn, specializing in rock, jazz, and pop. More recently, he became part of the Dominique Poirier Quartet, which just won the prestigious Oscar Peterson Scholarship Award. Within Cope Land, he strives to bring honesty to the music, trying to accurately transmit the music that flows from him, without trying to fit a specific mold.
Jeanne Laforest is a versatile artist and singer, working as much in contemporary multidisciplinary projects as in jazz and popular music. Trained as a singer at McGill University and the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland), she released her first album of original songs in 2022 (Puisque les heures nous manquent). Blending rock and pop with her multiple influences, Jeanne composes and arranges her repertoire in search of unique sounds that lead her to use both acoustic and electronic instruments, as well as choirs and orchestral ensembles to develop textured atmospheres that generate memories and emotions in the listener. Equally capable of being powerful and incredibly intimate as a performer, one of her greatest strengths lies in her remarkable presence of mind within her art. With Cope Land, she also plays synthesizer, as well as contributing lyrics and ideas to the compositions.
Antoine Tardif is a trumpet and flugelhorn player living in Montreal. Over the years, his curiosity towards a wide range of music genres has led him to accompany a good variety of artists. In addition to Cope Land, Antoine plays with Saligaude, Dany Placard, René Wilkin, and more recently Apashe, with which he recently completed two international tours. Within these projects Antoine dives into jazz, rock, folk, pop, and electronic music. He also possesses a bachelors degree in jazz performance from the University of Montreal. Although he loves to make his trumpet howl with great energy, and is adept at lead trumpet playing, Antoine is also a sensitive player who really excels at lyricism, subtlety, and minimalism. He brings all of these qualities to the table within Cope Land’s sound.
Valérie Lachance-Guillemette est une artiste, musicienne, saxophoniste et compositrice originaire du Lac-St-Jean. Faisant carrière à Montréal depuis plusieurs années, elle multiplie les projets en accompagnant des artistes sur les scènes du Québec et d’ailleurs, ainsi qu’en travaillant en studio en tant que saxophoniste. On la voit notamment travailler avec la rappeuse queer Calamine (Révélation Radio-Canada 2021, nomination ADISQ 2023), Anomalie big band, l’auteur compositeur Émile Bilodeau (FEQ), l’hommage à Pink Floyd Echoes, le chanteur Ketsmy, la ligue d’improvisation musicale de Montréal, le band de funk Coco Rose et avec la chanteuse Geneviève Leclerc et son spectacle Big Band. Nous avons aussi pu la voir dans des festivals en Europe tel que le MaMA Festival & Convention (Paris) avec Calamine.
Alex Desjardins expertly plays in jazz, popular music and classical contexts, both on stage, and in the studio. In addition to graduating from McGill University with a degree in jazz performance, Alex has played among others with the Anomalie Big band, Yelo Molo and the Orchestre National De Jazz de Montréal. He can also be heard on many albums (Alexandre Leblanc ''Musique pour jeunes fous'', Fred Tremblay ''Hurlez'', Lynda Lemay ''Il était onze fois'', Fat Kid Big Band ''New Beginnings'', etc.), which testify to the impressive stylistic range of the trombonist. Alex also brings his own compositions to life with his own projects: the creative music trio Trio Intersidéral and the Utopik Jazz quartet. All this makes him a complete musician with a rich musical personality who can perform in just about any situation. As a member of Cope Land, he brings his intensity, technical excellence and rhythmic wizardry to the music, along with the unique sound of the electric trombone.
Julien Pageau-Grégoire is a Montreal based electric bassist, known for his impressive technique, creativity, and versatility. Having previously played in many active bands, such as El Son Sono, he has been a perfect addition to Cope Land's sound.
Gregory Kustka-Tsimbidis is a drummer, composer, and educator based in Montreal, QC. Known for his versatility, Gregory is equally at home in rock and groove settings as he is playing jazz and experimental music. After over ten years living in Montreal, and a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from Mcgill University, Gregory has established himself as an in-demand sideman, contributing his unique voice and powerful groove to artists such as Gas Station Mentality, Boulila, and James Parm. As a composer, Gregory's music is inspired by an eclectic range of influences, blending elements of jazz, classical, and folk music together to create pieces that walk the line between instrumental chamber music and songwriting. Within Cope Land, his versatility has made him perfect for the project, contributing pulverising beats, powerful fills, as well as deeply sensitive playing and tasteful grooves.