This is Jowee Omicil
JOWEE OMICIL aka Mr. Bash! is a charismatic and unpredictable force in music — a musical polyglot, musician, improviser, educator, mentor, producer, and visionary composer who ranks among the most inspiring artists of his generation in Canada.
Born and raised in Montreal to immigrant parents from Haiti, he first encountered music in his father’s church, absorbing hymns and gospel, and picked up the alto saxophone at 15; a turning point that set his life on a bold new course.
Within a few years, his talent earned him a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he fine-tuned his craft. He later became a finalist at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, solidifying his place among the most promising voices of his generation. Spending time in New York under visionaries like Ornette Coleman and Kenny Garrett further shaped his artistry, expanding his musical vocabulary and reinforcing his belief in music as a space for freedom and fearless exploration.
Drawing from spiritual traditions, urban music, and popular culture, Jowee developed a boundary-defying approach to music that is alive, raw, and deeply authentic. He channels music through his whole being, wielding saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, Rhodes, piano, flutes, and whatever the moment demands.
His career has taken him to stages around the globe, collaborating with a remarkable array of musicians — including Roy Hargrove at the RH Factory, Tony Allen, André 3000, Marcus Miller, Wyclef Jean, JB Dunckel (Air), Herlin Riley, and new-generation pop artist Kazy Lambist — among many others whom he both inspires and is inspired by.
As Master of Ceremony at Quincy Jones’ 85th birthday during the Montreux Jazz Festival, he captivated the audience, radiating effortless charisma and joy. Refusing to be confined, Jowee moves fluently across instruments, ideas, and cultures — a vision that continues to define his work today.
As Gilles Peterson put it:
“The BasH! Energy music of Jowee Omicil… it was a moment we will not soon forget.”
In 2023, he extracted his philosophy of freedom into SpiriTuaL HeaLinG: Bwa KaYimaN FreeDoM Suite, a one-hour improvised work inspired by the Haitian Revolution of 1804. When no label would release it, he founded BasH! Village Records, proving authenticity transforms obstacles into triumphs. The suite became one of the year’s most celebrated releases, praised by tastemakers including The Guardian, BBC, Gilles Peterson, Jazzwise and many others. It stands as a testament to radical improvisation, cultural memory, and liberty.
His discography includes:
Let’s Bash! (2017)
Love Matters! (2019)
LeKTure (2020) — which inspired Carlos Niño, producer of André 3000’s Blue New Sun
With the release of sMiLes in 2025, he reaches his 11th album. Each project is a bold statement of creative freedom, artistic excellence, and fearless innovation. Just when you think you know what’s coming next, Jowee surprises you.
Jowee is not just a virtuoso; he is a relentless explorer. His unmatched improvisational skills guide audiences through uncharted sonic territories in real time. Kenny Garrett said after a 2024 Montreal Jazz Festival performance:
“I know you are improvising, but as you’re doing, it's working. You are having a party."
As a performer, he commands the crowd, his band, and the stage with the precision of a conductor. Every show becomes immersive like a DJ Set, a transformative journey that unites artists and audiences in joy, excitement, and curiosity.
At the heart of Jowee’s artistry is the BasH! Principle — a concept he created to embody Love in Motion. BasH! stands for:
“Beauty Ascending Socially Honestly.”
Aside from music, Jowee expresses his artistry in films, appearing in Damien Chazelle’s Netflix Series The Eddy, and portraying Sammy Davis Jr. in Mr. Aznavour alongside Tahar Rahim (The Serpent).
With his BasH! AkademY curriculum, he engages students and audiences, fostering self-expression. Jowee has also shared his expertise as a mentor at the Montreux Academy, guiding the next wave of talented musicians.
He moves like a nomad, constantly seeking new sounds and perspectives, leaving transformative marks wherever he goes. His talent is global.
