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OFFENBACH 
With an active career spanning over 15 years and the only Quebec band to serve up bluesy rock & roll, Offenbach could arguably be called the biggest rock band in Quebec’s music history. Formed in 1962 as The Double Tones by the Boulet brothers, Gerry and Denis; started out playing cover songs at showers and weddings. After adding a saxophone player, Fernand Hebert, the band became Twistin’ Vampires in 1963; landing their first recording contract. Shuffling more members, they renamed themselves The Fabulous Kernels. They were discovered by the impresario Jean-Paul Brodeur, who dropped his entire roster of clients to devote himself exclusively to the Boulet brothers. By 1967, they had dubbed themselves Les Gants Blancs and the band was ready to start writing their own songs, in English, and adding original material to their repertory of cover tunes. Influenced by Led Zeppelin in 1969, they changed the band name yet again to Offenbach Pop Opera, then Offenbach Soap Opera, and eventually to simply Offenbach. The band members at this point were Denis Boulet (on drums), Gerry Boulet (vocals and keyboards), Michel “Willie” Lamothe (son of Willie Lamothe, bass) and Jean “Johnny” Gravel (ex-Héritiers member, guitar). In 1970 the boys were introduced to the filmmaker, musician, poet and intellectual Pierre Harel and recruited him as the band’s fifth member, singer and songwriter. Their first album, Offenbach Soap Opera, was released in June 1971 and featured such hits as “Câline de blues” and “Faut que j’me pousse.” The new departure in sound didn’t get much interest from radio stations or the general public, but the band was nothing if not innovative, and in 1972 in Matane, they staged a concert that was entirely improvised from start to finish. They followed with a rock mass at St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. The “Messe des morts” – a mix of rock and Gregorian chant – drew an audience of 5,000. The show was recorded and gave rise to the 1973 album St-Chrone de Néant. Denis Boulet then left the band and was replaced by Roger “Weso” Belval. The following year, the band released Tabarnac, a documentary filmed during a weekend near Paris while the band worked on the soundtrack for Harel’s movie “Bulldozer.” The accompanying album yielded three hits: 'L'Hymne à l'amour', 'Promenade sur Mars' et 'Ma patrie est à terre'. In 1975 and ‘76, Offenbach toured and performed at Place des Arts in Montreal and clubs in Ontario. They released Never Too Tender, their first English album, and an eponymous record, which would be their best. It featured the hits “La voix que j’ai,” “Chu un rocker” (the French version of Chuck Berry’s “I’m a Rocker”) and “Le blues me guette.” More reshuffling ensued with two members leaving to join Pierre Harel in forming Corbeau. They were replaced by drummer Pierre Lavoie and bassist Normand Kerr, and joined, briefly, by a second guitarist, Jean Millaire. Then Ontarians Breen Leboeuf (bass) and Doug McCaskill (guitar) were enlisted, the latter soon replaced by John McGale. Pierre Lavoie was replaced by Bob Harrison on drums. The album Traversion was released in 1978 and did well, with several notable tunes: “Ayoye,” “Je chante comme un coyote,” “Deux autres bières,” and “Mes blues passent pu dans porte.” The album won the Félix award for Rock Album of the Year at the first annual ADISQ gala. The band then launched a tour of Quebec and Europe. In 1979, Gerry developed a jazz/rock fusion project with Vic Vogel’s Big Band. The show was recorded live at Théâtre St-Denis on March 30 and 31, 1979 and the resulting album became their first gold record. On April 3, 1980, Offenbach was the first Quebec band to ever play the Montreal Forum, and they did so before a crowd of 10,000 with guest bluesman John Mayall. After touring France with Bernard Lavillier, they teamed up with April Wine drummer Jerry Mercer and shared billing at Place des Nations de Montréal with the legendary Chuck Berry. At the ADISQ gala, Offenbach walked away with the Félix for Band of the Year, Rock Album of the Year (for Offenbach en Fusion) and Concert of the Year (Offenbach at the Forum). From 1981 to 1985, there were three more studio albums, one live record, and more cross-Quebec tours. Offenbach performed with the likes of Quebecers Garolou, Zachary Richard and Plume Latraverse as well as the iconic rocker Joe Cocker, and collaborated with wordsmith Michel Rivard. On November 1, 1985, Offenbach held its farewell concert at the Montreal Forum. “Le dernier show” earned them the Félix for Rock Concert of the Year at the ADISQ gala of 1986, and a live album was released to critical acclaim. The band scattered and its members went their separate ways – founder Gerry Boulet had a brilliant solo career until his death in 1990. Much of their music – including several greatest hits compilations – have since been digitally re-mastered and released on disc. |
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JIM ZELLER 
Back by popular demand at the Montreal International Jazz Festival every year, Jim Zeller is a fixture who has performed at that elite festival more than 20 times. Lachute en Blues is honoured to feature this outstanding headliner at its inaugural event. This Quebecois harmonica sensation has fathered his own one-of-a-kind performance style, affectionately known as “psychobilly blues” -- a mixture of rock n’roll, rockabilly, blues and rap with a dash of punk. His personality and his hell-bent style and effusive energy has made him a blues icon over his 30-year career. With several CDs to his credit including his latest, Cut To The Chase, Jim has a vast repertoire that incorporates everything from Beethoven to The Doors and everything in between. Born in Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, he began singing and playing harmonica at the age of 12. In the late ‘70s he joined his first professional group, the Shaky Al Blues Band. Later, he worked with an incredible list of blues legends such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, James Cotton and Albert Collins. After meeting Alan Gerber, they formed the famous duo, Gerber-Zeller, who perfomed with huge stars such as Bob Dylan and Loggins and Messina. Musicians world wide sought Jim out for his unique sound which resulted in guest performances on dozens of recordings. He also co-wrote songs with Michel Pagliaro that led to appearances on even more recordings and performed with him in concerts worldwide. Music critics in Paris and Angouleme, France, aptly labeled Jim a “stage whirlwind”. This led to performances with the Talking Heads, Pete Townsend (The Who) and Brian Eno in prestigious locations such as The Savoy, The Ritz and the Peppermint Lounge. He also formed two rock bands Manster and The Bank in New York City. In ’84, he returned to Montreal to headline Quebec festivals and perform with April Wine and Jacques Higelin. In ’85 he participated in the Worldwide Festival for the Youth and Students in Moscow, an event involving 20,000 representatives from 150 Countres. In ’87 he worked with quitarist Rick Vam under the name ICARUS and produced Stone Fox Chase, In Zaire and Pepino’s Back on the Unidisc record label. In ’92 Jim performed on Dan Bigras’ recording, TUE MOI, and Dede Trake’s first album. In ’93 a 30-minute documentary detailing Jim’s career premiered to rave reviews entitled Locomotive Blues. In ’95 and ’96 he performed with Leo Ferre at the Festival Paroles et Musique in St. Etienne, France, then returned home to finish his CD, Fire to the Wire, which showcased electrifying renditions of blues, reggae, salsa and rock, inspired by his tour in Jamaica. Following the release of that successful album, the Fire To The Wire tour took him to Morocco, Spain, France, the Dominican Republic and to more than 100 cities throughout Quebec. Jim Zeller Live, was released in ’99 along with another smash hit with ace guitarist, Jean Millaire. In 2000, Jim went on tour in Japan. Accompanied by Japanese musicians who adored his psychobilly style, they lovingly nicknamed him “Godzeller”! Four mini tours of France and his huge following of French fans, led to concerts at festivals in Bordeaux, MIDEM at Cannes, and at the UTOPIA club in Paris. In 2002, Jim and his wife Donna gave birth to their daughter Melody in the midst of endless touring and continuous composing of new songs with long-time friend, Jean Millaire. This collaboration was highlilghted in a performance at Woodstock with Beauce in front of 100,000 fans. In 2004, Jim and Chicago guitarist Joe Jammer produced their sensational landmark CD, Cut To The Chase. Since then, Jim has been in constant demand to perform and today, he is considered to be one of Canada’s most famous and revered blues’ legends. |
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CARL TREMBLAY 
Carl Tremblay is a renowned blues legend in Quebec. He has two passions -- blues music and the harmonica which has been his instrument of choice for over 35 years. He has toured almost everywhere in North America and Europe giving him the chance to rub shoulders with some of the world’s greatest and most legendary blues musicians such as Buddy Miles, Joe Cocker, Etta James, The Blues Brothers and Big Mama Thornton, just to name a few. In Quebec, he has opened for major headline acts such as Johnny Winter, John Mayall, Junior Wells and B.B. King. Without question, Carl Tremblay is a giant of the blues elite. Self taught, Carl started on the blues trail at a very young age. At age 13, he bought his first harmonica and his apprenticeship was done on the road during jam sessions across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. He has performed at every major blues festival in Quebec, at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and is a fixture at le Cabaret du St-Cyrille. In a word, Carl’s performance can always be described as stunning. After touring for a year in California where he played with musicians like John Belushi and B.J. Franklin, Carl returned to Montreal to play in different gigs such as the competition at Place des Arts where he received first prize in the Best Musician category. He then did a four-year tour of Europe. This is where his singing career started which he incorporated into his show when he played with different groups in many different countries. Because of his love for the harmonica and his desire to emphasize the beauty of the instrument, he founded the Carl Tremblay Harmonica Festival and for more than 21 years, this festival has brought together the best mouth-harp players in the world under one roof. Each year, this festival is a huge success. Travelling on the road is in his soul, so you will always find Carl on stage, thrilling audiences both large and small with his fiery energy and his incredible talent. Don’t miss this blues icon at Lachute en Blues. |
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STEVE ROWE 
Master blues guitarist Steve Rowe has earned his solid reputation. Acknowledged as one of the best, Steve has just released his fifth original album, FIVE, to rave reviews. Montreal CHOM radio’s Randy Renaud called Rowe a “head-down, have-guitar-will-travel professional who derives his greatest satisfaction from songs and notes perfectly delivered”. He was right. As is Rowe’s style, every note is deliberate and each tone carries meaning. Steve Rowe's fourth CD, Live à Montréal, earned him a spot in the Top 20 CDs of 2006 in Living Blues and Maple Blues magazines, and was a four-time nominee at the 2007 Quebec Lys Blues Awards, including Best CD and Best Performer. This recording captured the raw essence of a highly skilled band recorded straight off-the-board at the 2005 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Steve and his music have made its way into television and film, including the popular YTV teen series Prank Patrol for their season premiere. Feature film releases Teddy Bear and Seven Days have also chosen numerous songs from Steve’s large original repertoire for their sound tracks. CBC’s Homerun has given Rowe’s work a permanent home. Highlights from Steve’s third studio recording, Front Rowe Center, included a nationwide broadcast on Rogers TV, live from the Ottawa Blues Fest and earned another four nominations at the prestigious Lys Blues Awards, including Best Original CD. Among his favourite experiences, coaching actor Christian Kane for his blues guitar-playing role in MTV’s feature Love Song, stands out. Others include Steve’s television premiere for Bravo Television’s Café Campus en Blues in ‘97 and opening for Colin James at one of the Montreal Spectrum’s last concerts. Steve, acknowledged by the local press as a “Guitar Hero”, has firmly established himself as an original Canadian Bluesman. Upon hearing a teenage Steve play Led Zeppelin, older brother David threw him a classic Robert Johnson vinyl, telling him that this was the key to understanding the blues. Steve never turned back, forming his first band Skid Rowe with Bob Smith in 1981. He mastered his craft while backing up many headliners on the Montreal blues scene. Smokey Wilson’s advice to Steve was simple: “You’re an honest bluesman. Don’t ever change.” Steve’s approach to blues comes from 1950s Chicago and 60s British blues, largely self-taught, with influences from Michael Bloomfield, all the Kings (Freddie, Albert, and B.B.), Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. After honing his skills on blues standards, Rowe decided to start writing his own lyrics and music, releasing his first CD in 2000 entitled Driving the Blues Away. This is when he first met Sound Engineer Kevin Komada, Hotel2Tango’s Recording Studio, and Mastering Artist Andrew Heermans of Polywog Recording Company (NYC). Or Lord Polywog, as he has been righteously dubbed. This team can take much of the credit for the rich and pure tones of each instrument, with four microphones on guitar, naturally. Staying true to his roots, Steve and the band record live off the floor straight to two inch analogue tape, including guitar solos. In 2002, Steve released his second original album, No Refund, No Return. Steve has opened for Bryan Lee and jammed with blues legends Hubert Summlin and Buddy Guy. Canada’s Prime Minister of the Blues Dutch Mason had a young Steve once play with his band, inviting him to “Take it away, son” on the evening’s first solo. Today, as a bluesman in his own right, Steve continues to shine as part of this rich musical tradition. |
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KEVIN & KENNY 
Veteran bluesmen Kevin Harvey and Kenny Pauze have been performing for over 20 years. It’s authentic, heart-felt blues singing with roaring harmonica, National slide guitar, and rafter-shaking foot stomps. These guys do it all! Their music echoes the Mississippi bluesmen of the past with a touch of today’s feelings in a new recession. Kevin and Kenny have turned Delta/Country Blues standards into their own. Kevin Harvey's influences came from attending an early eighties Muddy Waters concert which led to the forming of a Blues based rock band, "Blind Lemon Pie, and later the"Bollweevil Acoustic Band". For Kenny, it was also Muddy Waters, but it was a recording with guest Johnny Winters on National guitar that had the greatest impact which then led to the discovery of all the Mississippi bluesmen. He's been picking on the back porch ever since, honing his playing, studying the recordings and forging his own style. They play old blues standards as well as some gospel tunes plus their own acoustic blues. If you’re a fan of old school, bare bones Delta Blues at its very finest, you’re going to love Kevin & Kenny! |
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ZOOLOO BLUES BAND 
Sylvette Brière, the hard-hitting, dynamic blues/rock vocalist is better known as Zooloo. The original Zooloo Blues Band was formed in Abitibi, Quebec in 1999. Tired of the small, local music scene and determined to make a name for herself, Zooloo decided to relocate to Gatineau, Quebec. In 2001, she found new musicians, who loved to play as much as she did and started all over again with a new show loaded with new energy. With her new band in tow, the Zooloo Blues Band began performing more often and further away from home. In 2005, the band released their first CD entitled “En Blues Foncé”. The band took the show on the road and started to create a buzz. They received second place at the 2005 half-final EMERGENZA Contest in Montreal. They performed for huge crowds at the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Gatineau, played a three night stint at the Maximum Blues Festival in Carleton as well as performed at the Nordand Blues Festival In Rouyn-Noranda; at The Grange Marcoux in Beauport Quebec; the Plaza Theatre; the Kola Note in Montréal; at The Pub Jacques Cartier; Bistro à Jojo; Medley in Montréal, and much more. Their music is a mixture of well orchestrated, modern, vibrant notes that bubbles with excitement influenced by an older, sophisticated, classy blues. The arrangements are sometimes minimal changing to multi-faceted in the extreme. The result is original and dynamic music played by incredibly talented instrumentalists. The band has shared the stage with the likes of Dawn Tyler Watson, Paul Deslauriers, Pat The White Band, Ricky Paquette, Joe Jammer, Jim Zeller, The Eight Killers band from Europe, Sal Piamonte, Martin Deschamps and many more. After a year in studio they’re back with a second album: “Let’s get hot!” Like the first album -- a hard, blues rock sound inspired by Led Zeppelin, Headpins, Scorpions & Big Mamma Thornton; this new album is strong and different than every other blues artists. Distributed “world wide” by Outside Music, this album is now one of the best blues sellers in the country. With a female lead signer who can rock the place with her powerful voice and strong attitude, the guitarist, Pierre Bouthillier, has made a strong impression with blues fans with his playing. The young Kaven Jalbert on sax, Martin Sabourin on bass and Nicholas Fizzano on drums. Special guests who appear on their CD include: Ricky Paquette, Pat The White, JFNO and Paul Deslauriers. Let’s get hot! A beautiful product filled with beautiful surprises! The Zooloo Blues Band continues with brio on his journey with a tour starting next week. This is a band like no other blues band. This new CD features collaborations with renowned artists such as: Paul Deslauriers, Ricky Paquette, Jorge Martinez, JFNO and Pat The white… Let’s Get Hot! is now the number 1 best blues sellers in Canada! Zooloo Blues Band just joined the big family of 272 Records in Los Angeles. Hypocritical, a song written by the singer of the band is on a new compilation released August 5th: “Blues Highway volume 1”. In 2009, the band will be touring the U.S., Germany, China and all around Canada. Let them seduce you! Let’s get Hot! |
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BOB HARRISSON 
Bob was a huge hit at the 2008 Tremblant Blues Fest and has also blown away the crowds at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Bob is a multi-talented Québécois musician who excels at the piano, drums, sax and vocals too! There isn’t anything he can’t do! He sang “country” with his parents when he was young and worked his way up to become drummer for the group “Offenbach” during their prime. During his career that spans more than 30-years, Bob says he has played more music in more places than he can remember. Today, as a respected singer and guitarist, he performs blues that is richly filled with the sound of brass and underlined by relentless rhythm. His two CDs, Chevalier Blues and Entre Nous, 50 Ans de Carriere were huge hits. Bob is a veteran bluesman with an exemplary talent and Lachute en Blues is proud to welcome him to its inaugural event. |
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DENNY SNYDER 
Born and raised an hour east of Chicago in South Bend, Indiana, Denny picked up the guitar at age 11 and it has now become an extension of his body! He was a Blues sensation all over the U.S., but lucky for Canadians, this singer/songwriter, guitarist, teacher and author, along with his wife and three children, moved to Montreal in 2007. Ever since then, he’s become a fixture on the Canadian Blues scene! Denny’s earliest influences were Elvis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. Later on, Eric Clapton and John Mayall led him to discover the incomparable Chicago Blues in his own backyard including Muddy Waters, Freddie King, and Buddy Guy. With some personal guidance and tutelage from Luther Allison, his sound became more sophisticated. As his guitar playing evolved, his heros were Lonnie Mack, Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanon and J.J. Cale – all of whom he later performed with and/or asked him to be the opening act. Today, at the height of his guitar playing prowess, he incorporates many different styles from his various influences, including a mixture of Manouche and fingerstyle funk. His band includes talented musicians such as Simon Meilleur, Yoland Houle and Lindsay Pugh. The band is working on their eighth CD (their first in Quebec) which will be engineered by blues icon, Rick L. Blues, who will also play harmonica on some of the CD’s tracks. With both electric and acoustic performances, this new recording is guaranteed to enhance and expand Denny’s reputation as one of the finest Blues guitarists anywhere. |
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LATE NIGHT BLUES BAND 
The star of Late Night Blues band is Pierre Germain. With over 40 years experience, this singer, composer, violinist, guitarist, pianist, bassist and educator with a degree from McGill University, this blues dynamo can virtually do it all!! Born in Montreal in 1952, Pierre started his musical career at the age of just seven at talent shows and contests. Becoming the lead singer for the rock band Mind Stress led to various engagements and tours, including a summer-long gig with Michelle Richard. After vocal training and more shows, a 45 single with MIF and solid experience in a variety of night clubs and other venues, he started violin lessons and took a detour into classical music. Returning to pop, he performed live with the likes of Paul André Thibert (Dionysos) and Claude Dubois and was a frequent guest on radio shows with other artists. Influenced by Hendrix, Seal, Howlin` Wolf and Muddy Waters he describes his music on London Records as electro-acoustic progressive blues. He devotes most of his time to teaching music and is currently in the studio recording his first solo album. |
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NIC PAYNE 
Nic Payne is one-man powerhouse. This native of Montreal is a self-taught drummer, guitarist and vocalist, whose music defies description. Encompassing a melange of diverse musical genres, Nic bridges the gap between rock and classical, reggae and French Canadian, pop classics and authentic down home blues plus everything in between. He is a fine craftsman of eclectic musical repertoire and no matter what melodies he intricately weaves together; Nic’s hands never stop moving. With incredible finger dexterity on guitar lines, he hammers out the beat of the song in intricate drum pulses on the base of his guitar while mesmerizing you with powerful vocals and harmonies. The sound he creates empowers each tune with harmony and balance juxtaposed with jump-up excitement. It’s hard not to dance and/or sing along. He may be a one-man-band but when you see him perform, you would swear there’s a drummer, a bassist, a guitar master and a killer lead vocalist all in one. Nic has his own personality on stage and this individuality is why he prefers to perform solo. Consequently, his music is a one-of-a-kind experience and he can be summed up with one word – amazing! Early in his career, Nic played drums with Jimmy James, the much revered guitar player and later played the blues alongside legendary Steven Barry. Although he took piano lessons as a child (all his family members play a musical instrument), he is self-taught on drums and guitar. His ability to master both techniques made him a respected, multi-talented musician in great demand. As a studio musician, he has recorded on dozens of various musicians’ albums and performed with countless bands. When his song-writing ability also became apparent, he was invited to perform and tour with Eric Lapointe, arguably Quebec’s biggest and greatest rock star. Together they co-wrote original material and performed to crowds of adoring Quebec fans everywhere. As a solo artist, he has played the entire blues circuit of Quebec, sharing stages with all the finest artists such as Bob Walsh, Jim Zeller, Carl Tremblay, Jimmy James, Angel Forest, Guy Belanger and so many more. He performed on the blues stage at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and for 10 years in a row he headlined the Tremblant Blues Festival. Each year, the Victoriaville Blues Festival asks him back to perform to keep thousands of Nic Payne fans satisfied. He loves to put on a dynamic, live stage show and estimates that he plays at least 150 nights a year. From main stage concert halls to small intimate restaurants such as Carol A-Go-Go in Saint Saveur, (one of his favourite venues), Nic holds his audiences enthralled and his music always delivers. Don’t miss his performance at Lachute en Blues. He will blow you away! |
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BLUES BERRY JAM 
The Blues Berry Jam started in 1999 at the FestiBlues International de Montréal in a project called, La Relève en Blues. That year, there were three bands with musicians under 20 years of age that performed at the festival. At the end of the event, seven of them decided to form a group and The Blues Berry Jam was born! Organizers of the festival were so knocked out with their music they decided to do everything they could to help them receive the recognition they deserved. Though some of the original members have come and gone, the drummer Jee-F Gavreau and the guitar player Eric Maher, have been mainstays of the band from the beginning. The female vocalist Nancy Desmarais, a vocal dynamo and has been described as, “the best blues vocalist in Quebec”. The infectious playing of mouth harp player Nicolas Puquet and the funky bass sounds of Brad Anderson complete the group. The band has performed at all the big events such as the FestiBlues International de Montréal, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Blues Fest, two times at Red Bank Jazz and Blues Fest in New Jersey, at Blues sur Seine in Paris, France, four times in New Brunswick and also in all the blues festivals in the province of Quebec. They have 2 CDs to their credit; Les Grands Classiques du Blues and The Blues Berry Jam Live plus a DVD. This young band of dynamic musicians is an audience favourite wherever they go! |
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CARLOS VEIGA 
Carlos is the consummate professional blues guitarist and his exceptional playing ability and his powerful voice have made him an outstanding and highly experienced artist. He loves to experiment with every musical genre, always broadening his scope and versatility. He has incorporated everything into his music including classical, Quebecois favourites, Anglophone rock, country, blues, jazz and folk. The result is a rich and diverse musical identity which twice earned him a nomination for Best Cabaret Artist at the prestigious Lys Blues Awards gala in 2006 and 2007. He is now in the process of producing a CD compilation featuring his greatest hits. Carlos Veiga and his band, Roots 66, includes some of the Montreal’s finest musicians; bassist Marc Deschêsnes (who is also the music director), percussionist Mathieu Toupin and Hammond B-3 organist, Michel Chasles. |
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RICK L. BLUES 
Born in Hawkesbury, Ontario, Rick L. Blues was later raised in Très Saint Rédempteur near Montreal. Like his seven brothers and sisters, he had a passion for music. His natural gift for imitation entertained his family and classmates with songs ranging from Elvis to the Beatles. At eight, he learned how to play the piano, guitar and the flute. At 15, he formed his first band where he sang, played drums and wrote his first songs. After tinkering with the saxophone and becoming a multi-instrumentalist, he discovered his love for the harmonica. His influences were jazz and blues artists Joe Pass, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, plus Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Little Walter. In the ‘80s, Rick’s first blues band, "B.L. Blues" started out as a duo with Henri Breton, then quickly became a trio and later a quartet. Today, he is a master of solo artistry and one which we have all grown to know and love. Rick has shared the stage with many prestigious artists such as Vic Vogel, Guy Nadon, Jean-Jacques Milteau, Garou, France D'amour, Normand Brathwaite, Nanette Workman, Marjo, and Annie Villeneuve. He has performed at elite festivals including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Blues-Sur-Seine in France. He has also written film scores and records at his own 2nd Avenue Studio on his own label, Crystal Blues Records. This exceptional singer and mouth harp master has received four Lys Blues Awards in 2007 and six nominations in 2008. His fourth CD, Back To The Roots With Friends, spans one hundred years of blues styles from traditional to swing. Dressed to kill in his distinctive bluesman suit, his warm, infectious voice creates instant ambiance with a mixture of tradition and personal flair. Accompanied by his three-piece brass section, Rick L. Blues was a huge hit at the Jazz Festival in Montreal performing songs form his CD, Blue September. He is an extraordinary artist of international calibre who effortlessly puts on a show bursting with energy. |