Jean Derome was born 29 June 1955 in Montreal, Quebec. Between 1972 and 1975, he studied music theory at Cegep de Saint-Laurent in Montreal and flute at Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec from 1975 to 1979. Between 1974 and 1983, he also taught flute and music theory in Montreal colleges. He formed the first jazz group in Quebec, Nebu, during his studies. A trio with Derome on flute, pianist Pierre St-Jacques and bassist Claude Simard, Nebu played “classically-informed contemporary jazz”. They toured extensively throughout Quebec and performed at the Festival de Musique Ouverte de Chateauvallon, France, in 1977. Before disbanding in 1981, Nebu released two albums: Motus (1980), and Nebu (1978).
