Celsius is the conception of bassist Pierre-Paul Bugeaud, a veteran of the Edmonton jazz scene. An integral part of the popular Société francophone des arts visuels de l’Alberta Jazz Art series since its inception in 1998, Celsius has become known for its eclectic approach to improvisation in which creative uses of colour, groove, and texture become fused with traditional and contemporary jazz idioms.

At the heart of the Celsius sound lie the acoustic and electric bass inventions of Pierre-Paul Bugeaud, the lyrical, groove-intensive creations of percussionist Gord Graber, and the colourful, soulful sonic designs of guitarist Jamie Philp. Rehearsing and performing as a trio since 2004, the group coalesced into its present incarnation with the addition of keyboardist-composer Bill Richards in 2007.