Pianist & Composer Ariane Racicot Announces Her Second Album ‘Danser avec le feu’

Pianist and composer Ariane Racicot is thrilled to announce the release of her second album, Danser avec le feu (Dancing With Fire), an impassioned and genre-defying work of art. Building on her acclaimed debut, Envolée, Racicot continues to explore a dynamic fusion of jazz, Latin music, classical influences, progressive rock, and even metal.

Danser avec le feu brings together eight bold new compositions that explore themes of resilience, environmental anxiety, and joie de vivre. With her long-time collaborators—electric bassist Antoine Rochefort and drummer Guillaume Picard—Racicot offers a vibrant and textured soundscape. Her music, influenced by artists like Tigran Hamasyan, Hiromi Uehara, and Avishai Cohen, will resonate with fans of adventurous contemporary jazz.

“This album is an exploration of language,” Racicot explains, “whether it’s sonic texture, harmonic color, or rhythmic pulses drawn from diverse musical traditions. I wanted to push my creative boundaries and reflect on the world around me.”

The seeds for Danser avec le feu were planted during the tour for Envolée. Racicot’s growing connection with Rochefort and Picard inspired her to push her hybrid style further, incorporating the textural possibilities of acoustic piano and electric bass. Many of the album’s pieces are through-composed, lending it a pacing and narrative flow reminiscent of progressive rock.

The album also draws on Racicot’s diverse musical background. A lifelong pianist, she completed her bachelor’s degree at the Université de Montréal and a master’s at McGill University, where she refined the compositions for Danser avec le feu. Her classical training, love for jazz, and passion for black metal bands like Behemoth and Amon Amarth all converge to shape her unique sound.

In addition to her work as a performer and composer, Racicot has been teaching jazz and classical piano since the age of 16. She describes teaching as an equally rewarding creative outlet and enjoys introducing jazz to students of all ages.

Danser avec le feu is a testament to Ariane Racicot’s boundless creativity and artistic vision. With its bold fusion of genres and evocative storytelling, this album is poised to captivate audiences worldwide.

Danser avec le feu Track Listing:

1. Avant la tempête 6:51
2. Going For A Walk 5:06
3. Dancing With Fire 7:48
4. There Is Some Hope 8:07
5. Chez-moi 5:52
6. Canicules 7:22
7. I Have Doubts 5:04
8. Après la tempête 8:47

Ariane Racicot ‘Danser avec le feu’ album artwork