Pianist-Composer Thélonius García Shares Captivating Debut Album

Montreal-based pianist and composer Thélonius García introduces his meditative solo piano style with his debut album Marche Nocturne. A collection of 16 original piano pieces, each short yet deeply evocative, the album represents a fusion of classical sensibilities with the improvisational freedom of jazz, drawing inspiration from the works of Impressionist composers like Debussy and Fauré. Through this rich blend of styles, García creates a sound that is both serene and introspective, inviting listeners into a contemplative world where time slows down and emotions unfold with each note.

Marche Nocturne was recorded with the skilled production guidance of Pierre Benoit at Studio 111 Productions, who has collaborated with notable artists such as Dominic Champagne and René-Richard Cyr. The album was recorded in a remarkably short span of two days on a Fazioli concert grand piano F278, a piano known for its depth of tone and expressive range. This swift recording process, combined with the piano’s resonant qualities, helped to encapsulate the intense yet delicate creative energy García infused into each piece, with an emphasis on capturing the raw emotion and atmospheric depth of his compositions.

The lead single, “Évocation,” serves as a perfect introduction to García’s reflective, deeply personal storytelling. Inspired by the works of Chopin, this piece reflects a sense of serenity tinged with isolation—emotions García experienced during a residency in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. It is emblematic of the album’s overarching themes of loss, nostalgia, and the passage of time.

For García, “Évocation” is more than just a composition; it is a meditation on the complexities of memory and emotion. He explains, “It’s an evocation of many stories, emotions, and perceptions. It speaks to the feeling of losing a loved one, of a nostalgic yet joyful reunion that unearths old memories and feelings. The recording itself feels raw and natural, almost like a live performance, as we only had a few takes for each piece.” The unpolished, unhurried feel of “Évocation” adds to the personal nature of the piece, allowing listeners to feel the spontaneity and vulnerability that García imbues into his music.

Loss is a central theme in much of García’s music. It is not just the loss of people, but of nature, time, and the environment. Marche Nocturne reflects this sense of impermanence, inviting listeners to slow down, immerse themselves in each note, and embrace the silence between them. García describes the album as an invitation for personal introspection, a space where listeners can reconnect with their inner selves and reflect on the passage of time. His music, rooted in loss, becomes a vehicle for healing, offering a quiet place to observe and find solace in the transient moments of life.

Born into a family of artists, García’s musical journey has always been intertwined with the world of visual and performing arts. His father, a Dominican visual artist, and his mother, a French sculptor, provided a creative foundation that influenced his approach to both music and life. García began his classical piano studies in France before pivoting to jazz under the guidance of Claude Terranova at the Conservatoire d'Aubervilliers. His move to Montreal in 2018 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his musical career, where he further explored instrumental music and honed his unique sound.

García’s influences are as eclectic as his background. He draws inspiration from a diverse range of composers, including luminaries like Nils Frahm and Max Richter. These artists have shaped García’s musical language, which blends classical, jazz, and contemporary influences to create a multicultural, boundary-erasing sound. His approach to music is marked by a commitment to evoking a serene, universal sense of connection, where the music speaks to the soul in a language beyond words.

Marche Nocturne is the culmination of years of artistic exploration and personal growth. García describes the album as “the work I’ve spent years crafting, and each piece on the album is an invitation to feel, to observe, and to reconnect with our inner selves. This music is the culmination of my search for authenticity, a world where I could finally find my sound.” Through this introspective journey, García has created an album that is not only a reflection of his personal experiences but also a universal invitation to engage with the quiet beauty and emotional resonance of life.

With Marche Nocturne, Thélonius García offers listeners a serene and timeless space where memories, emotions, and stories converge through the solo piano. Each piece is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and find meaning in the fleeting moments of our existence. Through the evocative power of music, García invites us to reconnect with the world within and around us.