Travels with Georges
A Yukoner by choice, a Frenchman by birth and a jack-of-all-media by trade, I have spent more time in Canada’s West than in my native France, which provides the source of my material. I headed North when I was 18, carrying with me an affinity for Georges Brassens - the celebrated singer who is to France what The Beatles are to the UK, or Bob Dylan to the U.S.. One of the most original and accomplished songwriters in modern times, Brassens remains an unknown in the anglophone world, 25 years after his death. Tired of endlessly explaining who was this really famous guy to my french challenged friends, neighbours and co-northerners, I decided that it was time to redress the situation. So one fine day, I set out to bring the works of Brassens to North-American ears.
Over the last four years I have transposed the bulk of Brassens' repertoire into English, something that had not been previously done to any extent, and I started singing the results before fresh audiences. I have performed regularly on local stages and at festivals, and I toured in France in the hotbed of all things Brassens.
After releasing a solo homemade affair, I made my way into the studio. I am currently working on a recording project that is equally divided between interpretations of the original versions and new adaptations in English. The concentrated version is available right now, titled Brassens REDUX: In brief.
Yukon music
The Yukon is a very particular musical breeding ground, and this album makes a good case in point. It is a tribute to timeless song writing that thinks outside the box, and to musicians that are as generous and inspired as the Yukon landscapes which they inhabit. Lending their talent are: Matt King, whose acoustic bass has been ruling the local music scene for many a year, and Keitha Clark, whose violin playing has consistantly been the highlight of busy Yukon stages. Marie-Hélène Comeau adds a too rarely heard voice, while Yellowknife’s other King of bass, Pat Braden, makes a special appearance. Rounding up the team, Ed White, who first cut his chops in Daniel Lanois’ Hamilton studio, adds gentle percussions as the need arises, and Laurie Malo provides the sound for all this. Laurie is in the recording business for the love of it, and nothing but a labour of love could come out of his log studio, Rainbow Recording, peacefully nestled amid Yukon woods.
Since this is my first studio release, you can appreciate from the generous grey in my beard that I didn’t rush headlong into a musical career. As far as how far this is all going, your guess is as good as mine. But this is not the point, really. The point is that, one by one and starting with you, someone new might tune in and realize in turn that those songs deserve a shot at being heard on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, and in this day and age. Enjoy...
Bonjour M. didier ! Ca boume ? Moi ça va, merci. Un nouveau morceau est à l'écoute sur la page de post goupil : "Songe d'antan". Je ne me suis pas mouillé, il plaît à tout le monde ce truc là... Sera-t-il à votre goût ? Au plaisir de vous voir un de ces quatre. arnaud
Thank you for your friendship and keep on sharing your passion with the people. If you want to know how a violin can rock, or if you only want to know where I am in the world right now, come and visit me on my space.
Bonne journée
Merci pour votre amitié et continuez à partager votre passion avec les gens. Si vous voulez savoir comment un violon peut faire du rock, ou si vous voulez savoir ou je me trouve dans le monde présentement, venez me visiter sur myspace. Bonne Journée.
Sébastien
Bonjour !
c'est l'amour de brassens qui m'a mis sur votre piste. Bravo pour vos interprétations et vos re-créations -excellent "gorilla" !
Bon vent du nord et merci de m'avoir accepté comme ami my spacien !
arnaud
