Bio

Guitarist and composer, Marcel Anicic was first introduced to music at the young age of 7 by his music teacher who was an organist and a great admirer of Ray Charles. Thus, from his very childhood he developed an interest for the American music, especially soul, jazz and funk. However, it is his mother who really put him onto a path to become a musician by introducing him to the music of Pink Floyd. It is while listening to their music that he fell in love with the guitar, and the music of Pink Floyd became and remains to this day one of the greatest influences on his own musical expression.

During his early adolescent years Marcel studies composition and classical music in several music conservatories in his native Bosnia and later Croatia. Meanwhile his love for jazz grows and he begins playing and studying it with an ever increasing dedication. At 19 he moves to Montreal where he completes university studies in jazz performance and takes courses with several renowned Montreal jazz artists such as Dave Turner, Michael Gauthier, Charles Ellison, Marc Villemure, Rody Ellias, and others. During this time Marcel plays in numerous jazz ensembles and he works on perfecting his jazz vocabulary by learning the traditions of the great masters such as John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Jim Hall, Miles Davis, Larry Young, etc. These artists quickly become a lasting influence his style of composition, his personal artistic expression, his approach to the guitar and, of course his, musical direction.

Graduating with distinction in Jazz Performance Marcel pursues a career in music and becomes a regular on the Montreal jazz scene. He has played in many jazz clubs and venues in and around Montreal, including Upstairs, In Vivo, The Pas Sages, Bily Kun, L’Escalier, Les Rendez-Vous du Thé, Tabasco Bar, Cagibi, etc., as both a leader and sideman in various ensembles and bands, with styles ranging from jazz to soul, funk, reggae, avant-garde, electronica, rock, folk and classical.

He has performed with many renowned musicians including Charles Papasoff, Yanick Rieu, The Wire Ensemble and Les Gitans de Sarajevo. In addition, he has recorded four albums as a leader including: This Way Please (2004), Atomic Memories (2006), Short Stories (2008) and This is Between You and Me … (2010).

However, it is his Marcel A trio (with Francis Darche on bass and Orest Harmatiuk on the drums) that becomes his longest lasting and dearest collaboration to date. It is with this group that he records his latest album titled Cold Love (2012). Filled with profound artistic statements Cold Love explores themes of love, loss, joy, sorrow, peace, doubt, hope and spirituality. Featuring Marcel’s original compositions, Cold Love offers a true exhibition of his guitar skills and is a testament to deep artistic maturity, and mastery of the jazz form and tradition.

Bio (français)

Guitariste et compositeur, Marcel Anicic a été introduit à la musique à l’âge de 8 ans par son premier professeur de musique, qui était un organiste et un grand admirateur de Ray Charles. Ainsi, d’un jeune âge, il a acquis un amour pour la musique américaine dont le soul, jazz et funk. Par contre, c’est sa mère qui le met sur la véritable voie de devenir un musicien en lui introduisant la musique de Pink Floyd. C’est alors qu’il tombe amoureux de la guitare, et la musique de Pink Floyd reste jusqu’à ce jour une des plus grandes influences sur sa propre expression musicale.

À l’âge adolescent Marcel étudie la composition et la musique classique dans plusieurs conservatoires de musique en Croatie. Pendant ce temps son amour pour le jazz grandit et à 19 ans il se déplace à Montréal où il fait ses études universitaires en performance jazz et prends des cours avec plusieurs artistes montréalais renommés tels que Dave Turner, Michael Gauthier, Charles Ellison, Marc Villemure, Rody Ellias, et d’autres. Ainsi il perfectionne son vocabulaire jazz et apprends la traditions des grand maîtres tel que John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Jim Hall, Miles Davis, Larry Young, etc. Ces artistes incontournables influencent énormément son style de compositions, son expression artistique personnelle, son approche à la guitare et bien sûr son sens musicale.

Marcel poursuit la carrière en musique et devient un régulier sur la scène jazz montréalaise. Il joue dans des nombreux clubs de jazz et lieux de spectacles à et autour de Montréal dont Upstairs, In Vivo, Les Pas Sages, Bily Kun, Escalier, Les Rendez – Vous du Thé, Tabasco Bar, Cagibi, Quai des Brumes, etc. Il fait partie des divers ensembles et groupes de musique de vastes styles, variant du jazz à soul, funk, electronica, rock, folk et électroacoustique.

Il s’est déjà produit avec plusieurs musiciens renommés incluant Charles Papasoff, Yanick Rieu, The Wire Ensemble et Les Gitans de Sarajevo. En plus il a enregistré quatre albums en titre de leader dont: This Way Please (2004), Atomic Memories (2006), Short Stories (2008) et This is Between You and Me…(2010)

Cependant, c’est son Marcel A trio, avec Francis Darche sur la basse et Orest Harmatiuk sur la batterie, qui lui tient le plus au coeur, et avec lequel il enregistre son dernier album intitulé Cold Love (2012). Cet album qui démontre une profonde maturité artistique et maîtrise de son art, met en vedette ses compostions originales, et  offre une véritable exposition de ses talents de guitariste.