Guitarists who make Quebec vibrate

A bit naively, our challenge was to find out who was the best guitarist in Quebec. However, when we surveyed the milieu, the artists quickly told us that the “best” doesn’t exist. So many styles, tastes, variables… That said, six six-string experts were kind enough to confide in the Quebec guitarists they admire and who make them vibrate. Simple observation: a particular name has been raised many times…

Steve Hill’s Choice: Andrew Cowan (one night in 1999)

The first to question the existence of the “best guitarist” in Quebec was Steve Hill, explaining that grace sometimes touches the neck of a musician simply for the time of a show. “You can be the best one night, and the next day it will be another,” he says. The most significant transformation he witnessed took place in 1999, in a club of bikers, In France. He was then the first part of the Stephen Barry Band, where Andrew Cowan officiates on guitar. “There, something magical happened. Stephen told me he hadn’t heard Andrew play like that in 30 years, and he hasn’t played like that again since,” he said. His guitar sounded divine, coming out of unpublished phrasings, with the reinforcement of astonishing bends (action of pulling the strings) and detunings. “That night, he was the best guitarist on the planet, I learned a lot of tricks that I still use,” says the bluesman. He was connected, it’s hard to explain. Personally, when I have good evenings like that, I become an instrument myself. But that never happens in big shows! »

A few notes on Steve Hill

Originally from Trois-Rivières, Steve Hill has established himself as a staple of the blues-rock scene, having developed a system where he provides guitar, bass and drums himself.

Simon Godin’s choice: Joe Grass/Pierre Côté

Same refrain with Simon Godin: the best guitarist in Quebec doesn’t exist. He says he respects all his peers, mentioning a few names (Zale Seck, Guillaume Doiron), but admits to having a weakness for the approach of Joe Grass. “For me, being a good guitarist doesn’t necessarily mean having the best hand. There is the “touch”. That, you don’t win in a box of Cracker Jack. You have it or you don’t. And Joe Grass, he has it”, explains the one who multiplies the television appearances (The beautiful tour, Belle and Bum). Admiring his latest album, he says he likes how the musician places his lines a little behind time, his “anti-game” side and his language. “He puts poetry in his music, you understand exactly what emotion he wants to convey,” he says. Suddenly, a flash crosses his mind. ” OK. Pierre Cote. It can’t be to play the guitar like that”, launches Simon Godin, remembering his first listening on Portraits by Jim Corcoran.

“I fell out of my chair. It didn’t make any sense. And he’s capable of doing everything, amazingly. Give him a classical guitar, you’ll think he’s a flamenco guitarist. Same for jazz or country. A guitar with a floyd? He’ll play you Van Halen. “I find Joe Grass’s artistic proposal more trippy,” he sums up. But as for the execution, Pierre Côté, that makes no sense. When he’s there, everyone is silent, we all look like guitar owners and we say to ourselves: “We’ll stay quiet tonight”! »

A few notes on Simon Godin

Simon Godin has appeared as a guitarist in many television shows (The beautiful tour, Belle and Bum) and has accompanied Richard Séguin since 2006.

Dan Mongrain’s Choice: Denis “Piggy” D’Amour

While on a European tour with Voivod, guitarist Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain took the time to respond to our email request, sounding out the metal scene. At first hesitant to set his sights on a counterpart, he finally paid a vibrant tribute to his predecessor Denis “Piggy” D’Amour, who passed away in 2005. Shostakovich,” Dan Mongrain wrote to us. He also underlines the influence on Piggy of progressive bands such as ELP for his keyboard parts or King Crimson and his dissonances, before he himself became an influence for other musicians in the metal scene, and even beyond. “He will always be a model, a guide and an inspiration for me”, concludes the man who has just celebrated his 15^e year of belonging to Voivod.

A few notes on Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain

After touring with Gorguts, Alcoholica, Capharnaum and Cryptopsy, Dan Mongrain joined Voivod in 2008 replacing Denis D’Amour.

Paule Magnan’s choice: Pierre Côté

The one who has been scouring the stages, television sets and classrooms for a long time as a teacher recognizes that there are a host of excellent Quebec guitarists. Spontaneously, two favorites come to mind: Pierre Côté and Michel Cusson, the latter having impressed her during her last visit to the Jazz Festival. About the first, she discovered it during a competition in Toronto, when she was playing with the Big Band Saint-Laurent, while Pierre had appeared with the Big Band McGill. “He got up and played a jazz solo that passed through the room, it was scary! After that, I saw him play in lots of different contexts, like slow blues, where he chained solos to make my hair stand on end,” recalls Paule Magnan, praising his disconcerting ease in a wide range of styles. The guitarist has also taken a few lessons with him recently, appreciating “his musicality, his technique, his improvisation, his sound… but above all, his ability to lift a song”, lists the one that brings him closer to Scott Henderson. “And he is very nice! “, she concludes.

A few notes on Paule Magnan

TV trays (Belle and Bum, Funnoir), major national stages, studios… Paule Magnan has played as many notes in her life as she has multiplied appearances, productions and collaborations in the musical and guitar world of Quebec.

François Rioux’s choice: François Jalbert

Let’s invest the jazz field, in which François Rioux officiates as an artist (The Lost Fingers) and teacher (he teaches at Laval University). He certainly scratches his guitar, but especially scratched his head when he was asked to designate a musician who impresses him in this sphere. Between two sighs, the names twirled around: Sylvain Provost, Stéphane Tellier, Jean-Sébastien Williams… He hesitates to pay homage to the precursors (Richard Green) or to the next generation (Sam Kirmayer). Finally, it will be François Jalbert – even if he has somewhat distanced himself from jazz, where he learned his scales. “He is a very creative young man in his composition and his improvisation, with a great mastery of the instrument. He does not embark on predefined plans, is uncompromising in his way of playing, with great instinct, leaving a lot of room in his improvisations, ”points out François Rioux. The teacher also appreciates Jalbert’s ability to use all the depth of his jazz training. “He’s not just a good guitarist technically, because from a musical point of view, he can take unexpected avenues, let himself be carried away by the flow. There are ways to do it, not just try and fail! »

Caroline Planté’s choice: Stéphane Tellier

We have joined Caroline Planté, whose flamenco runs in her veins, to designate a favorite in terms of world music. Not confining herself to the Hispanic guitar, she mentioned the name of Stéphane Tellier, whom she has admired for a long time. Excellent in gypsy jazz, he is also a jack-of-all-trades, multiplies collaborations, flirts with the classic – the first album of his group Axiome illustrating it perfectly. “I find him different, he has a way of composing and approaching the instrument that touches me and joins me, judge Caroline Planté. I like its versatility and sensitivity. He can be extremely technical, but also leave a lot of silences, and that, for me, is important, because he doesn’t just play notes for notes: he speaks with his instrument. Per the tape, the flamenco player had great words for Joe Grass. “He can be a bit more cinematic in his compositions, he tells stories. We always recognize him when he plays: he has his sound, it’s not easy to get there and I find it important,” says the one who also has great esteem for a certain… Pierre Côté.

A few notes on Caroline Planté

Flamenco guitarist for 40 years, Caroline Planté was introduced to the instrument by her father, continued her training in Seville, then toured Spain for 10 years. Since her return to Quebec, she has led various projects, including Kora Flamenca with Zal Sissokho.