Jowee Omicil: Roots, Groove and Spirit

Jowee Omicil turns jazz into a joyful ritual, mixing Afro-Haitian roots, gospel, hip-hop and boundless improvisation.

Born in Montreal to Haitian parents, Jowee Omicil embodies a deeply personal vision of jazz, free, spiritual, and boldly hybrid. His musical journey began in his father’s church, where the saxophone became both a means of expression and a bridge to the sacred. From there, his influences expanded without limits, embracing sacred hymns, Michael Jackson, 2Pac, and the radical freedom of Ornette Coleman, who would later become a guiding mentor.

Known to wider audiences for his role in the Netflix series The Eddy, Omicil has long stood out as one of the most inspired musicians of his generation. A tireless traveler and magnetic performer, he uses music to reconnect with ancestry, honor his Haitian heritage, and at times confront the wounds of history through sound.

On stage, Jowee Omicil reveals his full multi-instrumental range, moving fluidly between saxophones, clarinets, flutes, cornet, keyboards, and vocals. He is joined by an exceptional ensemble, Jendah Manga on bass, Yoann Danier and Arnaud Dolmen on drums, and Jonathan Jurion on piano, forming more than a band: a true collective force. What emerges is not just a concert, but an immersive experience where rhythm, spirituality, and improvisation merge into a single, electrifying flow.

Alongside this, Jowee Omicil returns with his eleventh album, sMiLes, a fearless tribute to the creative freedom ignited by Miles Davis. Released on Bash Village, the album arrives digitally on November 11, with a physical release on January 23, 2026, ahead of the centenary of Miles Davis’s birth.

Production year 2025
Recording location Jazz à Porquerolles Festival
Genre Live Show
TV Director Valentine Gautier
Duration 1h13