Jean-Marc Vallée was the most music-loving of filmmakers. Loved ones and collaborators will pay a musical tribute to the Quebec director who died two and a half years ago, during a unique evening which will bring together, among others, Elisapie, Beyries, Maxime Le Flaguais, Patrick Watson, Pierre-Luc Brillant and Alexandra Stréliski.
“Jean-Marc accompanied his life with soundtracks, for everything, all the time,” singer-songwriter Beyries told us during a rehearsal last week. Not for nothing that the concert, which will be presented at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on Thursday as part of the Jazz Festival, is entitled Mixtape. We will be able to hear music that was part of the musical framework of his works as well as pieces that he liked to listen to and others created for him.
Beyries met Jean-Marc Vallée when she was working in the film industry. “He had loyal, long-standing friendships, deep and sincere relationships,” she emphasizes. It is also a loyal core – Marc-André Grondin as director, Jean-Phi Goncalves as musical director, Jean-Marc Vallée’s son, Alex Vallée, as well as Amélie Beyries as artistic director – who are behind the idea and creation of this evening.
“What we’re trying to do is a good music show,” Marc-André Grondin explains to us, while we hear Elisapie rehearsing.
It’s a musical tribute, not a tribute, that, there are plenty of other places to do that. There, we let the music speak.
Marc-André Grondin
For the unforgettable interpreter of Zac in CRAZY., Jean-Marc Vallée mastered the art of the soundtrack to perfection. So much so that today, for many people, Space Oddity evokes Bowie as much as the filmmaker’s famous film, thanks to the perfect union between images and music. “He came to graft himself into the life of the world,” he said. There aren’t many directors who achieve that. »
Jean-Marc Vallée was “extremely a music lover”, recalls musician and director Jean-Phi Gonvalves, who was his neighbor and who collaborated with him on an occasional basis. “He knew more music than a lot of people. Around me, I think there are just Marc-André Grondin and him who know as much music, without it being their job. »
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Marc-André Grondin is the director of Mixtape: a musical tribute to Jean-Marc Vallée. “I don’t know the technicalities of each department well, but let’s say that when there is a doubt, a hesitation, it’s me who decides. »
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Musical director Jean-Phi Goncalves likes the concept of mixtape. “There’s a nice variety to it. But it won’t be a pizza, because we have a band that is there from the first song to the last. It will be like a splash of colors on the same painting. »
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Jean-Phi Goncalves, bassist Fabienne Gilbert, Marc-André Grondin, Élisapie, guitarist Joseph Marchand and Beyries. “There were moments in rehearsal when I got goosebumps,” says Marc-André Grondin. Because criss it was good! For a music nerd like me, working with all these musicians is wonderful. »
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Elisapie interprets Crazy by Patsy Cline in rehearsal. There will be a rock band on stage as well as a string quartet and backing singers. “There are people who worked very closely or remotely with him,” explains Marc-André Grondin. Everyone has a different relationship, there are some for whom it is more emotional than others. But if we want touching moments, we’re also here to have fun. »
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Beyries will sing at the concert, for which she also acts as artistic director. “I was given that as a title, but I don’t really know what the job description is. I’ve never done that. But it makes me happy, it’s easy for me to make sure everything is correct.”
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The director liked to organize DJ evenings, remembers Jean-Phi Goncalves. Above all, he loved sharing his musical passions. “He made me discover things! », exclaims Elisapie, who spoke to us during a short break. “The one I can no longer listen to without crying is Sharon Van Etten, whom we learned to love, and whom we went to see together for our holidays. »
The singer had met Jean-Marc Vallée during a public event, and quickly found her “soul brother” in him. “As soon as I met him, I said to myself: he’s someone who clearly loves music. » She had so much confidence in his judgment that she made him listen to all her demos.
“I needed his stamp. He liked it not too produced. I often think of him when we want to wear too many diapers,” says Elisapie, who has difficulty accepting the disappearance of this “great, passionate and electric madman” that he was.
“He is someone who gave a lot of love. » His voice cracks a little.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Elisapie is going to sing Crazyhis song Navvaatarawhich Jean-Marc Vallée used in Café de Floreand its Inuktitut version of Wish You Were Here, which appears on his most recent album. “I so wish he would have heard it. This is my great regret. »
I wish I didn’t have to do this show, I wish I did it with him. It was such an impulse of love and passion. He would have liked to be a musician or singer.
Elisapie
“He would have liked that, to be music,” she continues.
“Meaningful” tribute
Jean-Marc Vallée not only wanted to make music, but he would have wanted to be a rock star, believe his friends and his son. “If he had been more talented at singing or playing an instrument, he would have tried,” believes Alex Vallée. But he was good at recognizing his strengths and weaknesses, and he knew he was a better filmmaker than a rock star! »
This is also what Beyries says, smiling. “The first time he saw me perform, he was jealous. I told him: but I’m not a rock star! I’m just a singer who sings sweet songs. He told me: I really wanted to be a rock star, I ended up a director. »
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Beyries in rehearsal for Mixtape. “It will be like a big wave of love and friends,” she said. With the musicians we have, the extraordinary performers, the great classics we’re going to sing, it can’t be not good. And it’s just once! »
After the “surreal” death of Jean-Marc Vallée, Beyries preferred to take a step back before organizing a tribute show, in order to “put on something truly substantial, real and meaningful. » Just like his friend.
“He was extremely present, very connected, close to his emotions. We weren’t afraid to cry with him, and he was often moved. I am moved by it myself! » She stops a little as the pain mounts. “It’s crazy, he had that in common with Michel Côté… and I do too, you have to believe! »
For Alex Vallée, this evening is important to continue to keep the memory of his father alive, but also to come together with friends and work together.
My father was a great unifier, he loved working with the people he loved. He had great working relationships, real great friendships.
Alex Vallee
He himself will sing, for the first time in his life, with an orchestra. “It’s a nice buzz to feel this collective energy. I find that sick! », says Alex Vallée who, as you might expect, grew up with a love of music. This show, he confirms, will resemble his father.
“He had playlists for everything! He even conveyed the dramatic arc of his characters with music. It helped him understand their language, their emotion. » When he thinks of Thursday’s show, Alex Vallée feels “a lot of gratitude, joy too”.
“A line that we often repeated while we were putting on the show was: would Jean-Marc have liked that? says Beyries. That was our guideline. »And what is his answer? She smiles. “To date, I think Jean-Marc would like that. Having a tribute to Wilfrid, he would be happy. He would probably have lots of criticism! But he would be really touched. »
Thursday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m., at the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall at Place des Arts
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