Montreal-based jazz pianist and composer Steve Amirault honed his craft in New York City, playing with some of the genre's great musicians, and received a warm welcome upon his return to Canada. Hailed by La Presse as "the most fluid and lyrical pianist in Montreal," Amirault hosted the Festival's Jam Sessions series in 2000 and won the Grand Prix du Jazz the following year. In 2006, the pianist released his fourth album, Breath, which won the Prix Opus for jazz album of the year. In 2011, he released his first "vocal CD", One Existence.