Montreal alto saxist Benjamin Deschamps balances tradition, modernity

Montreal alto saxophonist Benjamin Deschamps ventures across the border later this week to play three Ontario concerts — Sept. 29 at the Jazz Room in Waterloo, Sept. 30 at Record Runner Rehearsal Studio in Ottawa and Oct. 1 at the Emmet Ray in Toronto.
Before Deschamps, a bracing player and composer who is 29 years old, starts logging the kilometres with his quintet, get to know him and his music through the interview below.
Q: Tell me about your first steps as a music student and your fir