The Lex French Quartet

Described in NZ as “the leading local voice on the the trumpet”, Lex French is known both as a leader and a sideman. He performs and tours regularly with his original quartet, quintet, and sextet, Nola-style brass band Richter City Rebels, throwback trio The Bayou Brothers and hard-bop quartet The Boogaloos. As a sideman, he plays lead-trumpet for the RNZAF Jazz Orchestra, trumpet with contemporary Jazz octet The JCA, as well as appearing as a soloist with Jonathan Crayford, Lucien Johnson, Norman Meehan, John Rae and The Rodger Fox Big Band. He is Artist Teacher in Jazz trumpet and small ensembles at the NZ School of Music, and maintains a busy private teaching studio.

Lex holds his Master's degree in Jazz from McGill University in Montreal. While studying, he played regularly with the The National Jazz Orchestra of Montreal, The Effendi Jazzlab Orchestra, The Joe Sullivan Big-band, Kalmunity Jazz Project, The Atomic Big Band, as well as with his own quintet.
July 2016 see the release of his sophomore album 'Prevent the Future'. Recorded in Adelaide at Wizard Tone Studios, the band features the almighty James Muller on Guitar.

Lex's debut album as leader was entitled 'The Cut' and was released in June 2014 on Rattle Records, featuring an all-star Canadian lineup.