Guy Belanger - Voyages & Other Stories - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Voyages  & Other Stories, by Guy Belanger and it's a solid release with contemporary blues style. Opening with Bayou's Ride, Rob MacDonald on slide, Claude Fradette on guitar, Bruce Cameron on piano, Marc-Andre Drouin on bass and Michael Dufour on drums giving Belanger a solid base for his crafty harmonica adornment. Nice opener. On slow blues, Do I Move You, Sylvie Desgroseillers on lead vocal and perfect guitar response over a great bass drone by Drouin really creating a perfect showcase for Belanger on harmonica. Certainly one of my favorites on the release. Jump track, Duck Soup really has a grate feel with harmonica/guitar duet on the intro and super breakouts by Belanger and MacDonald. Excellent! With a modern shuffle feel, King Bee, features Belanger on vocal and harmonica over some real tasty dobro work by MacDonald and bass by Alec McElcheran. Wrapping the release is Au Bout Du Chemin, a strong ballad with harmonic vocals by Nanette Workman and strong harmonica work over the melody by Fradette, Drouin, Dufour and MacDonald. Solid closer. 

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Guy Belanger - Eldorado - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Eldorado, from Guy Belanger and it's pretty cool. Opening with instrumental, Carving The Wind, featuring Guy Belanger interweaving his harmonica work with Robert MacDonald on guitar over the bass work of Marc-Andre Drouin and Michael Dufour on drums. A pure Latin beat sets the tone for instrumental title track, Eldorado, with it's crisp rhythm and swaying feel. Belanger crafts a really nice melody and MacDonald shapes flowing guitar tones that almost sound like the wind. Very nice. A track with an overall blues feel and real tension, When Will I Know features Belanger on lead vocal and harmonica and Bob Stagg on b3, piano and Wurlitzer. This is a really sensitive track with a great radio sense. One of my favorite tracks on the release is light funky jazz rocker, Wicked with it's super bass line from Drouin, and Belanger on harmonica melody and including a real nice guitar solo by MacDonald. Another track with roots in the blues is Hummin' with some really nice blending between Eric Longsworth on cello and MacDonald on acoustic guitar and understated harmonica work by Belanger. With an almost Tower of Power (with no horns) feel, Ganga has you bobbing in no time and with harmonica lead, excellent guitar work by MacDonald, the addition of Paul Picard and the hard work of Drouin on bass. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Stillwater, an interesting, almost anthem track, with strong harmonica effects and a firm guitar, bass, drums underpinning. This is a smooth closer for a real interesting release. 

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Quebec's Masterful Harmonicist Guy Bélanger Set To Release Eldorado October 25

Quebec's Masterful Harmonicist   Guy Bélanger Set To Release Eldorado October 25

Bélanger's sixth solo album coming out via Bros Records

Quebec’s most sought-after harmonica player, Guy Bélanger is set to release his 6th solo album, Eldorado on October 25th on Bros Records. This long-awaited new release features a mix of original blues songs and instrumental gems that highlight his remarkable melodic touch. Eldorado is another demonstration of the top-notch chemistry Bélanger and his band can attain in studio. This brilliant assemblage of original songs also contains a few surprising covers, of note a delta blues version of Prince's “Sign 'O The Times” and a joyous rendition of Van Morrison’s “Bright Side of the Road”.  With a storied career that has spanned more than four decades, Bélanger has worked with some of Quebec’s biggest names in music and entertainment including, among others, Celine Dion, Cirque du Soleil, and Bob Walsh. He is a two-time Maple Blues Award winner and since 2003 has won 14 Lys Blues awards. Eldorado is Bélanger’s most ambitious album to date; the songs are powerfully emotive with twists at every turn. Eldorado is an invitation to the listener into Guy Bélanger’s musical universe through his marvellous songwriting and the top-notch harmonica playing.  The album and its themes are summed up concisely by Bélanger.  “Eldorado means (for me) “The Quest”. I love the road I ride, and the pitfalls only give me the courage to move forward…” guybelangermusic.com TRACK LIST 1.         CARVING THE WIND (3:17) 2.         BRIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD (5:22) 3.         ELDORADO (3:42) 4.         WHEN WILL I KNOW (6:14) 5.         WICKED (3:52) 6.         HUMMIN’ (5:09) 7.         GANGA (5:22) 8.         SIGN O’ THE TIMES (4:06) 9.         HOPE & FAITH (4:45) 10.       FOUR LITTLE WORDS 11.       STILLWATER (3:49)

Guy Belanger - Traces & Scars - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Traces & Scars, from Guy Belanger, showcasing his talents as a composer, band leader and harmonica player. Opening with My Dearest Friend, a crisp instrumental, Belanger shows why he is so highly regarded as a serious harmonica player, joined by Rob McDonald on guitar. Picking up the pace on Better Days and with a bluesier sound, Belanger maintains tight technique over nice guitar and lap steel work by Andre Lachance by  and percussion by Michel Roy. Little Heart is a real nice ballad featuring particularly sensitive vocal and harmonica by Belanger making it my radio pick for the release. Rocker, See The Light,  featured some really tasty electric guitar soloing by Kaven Girouard with bass by Marc-Andre Drouin and drums by Michel Roy. Funky jazz tune, Common Ground, showcases Rob McDonald on guitar with Lachance and Belanger giving it a real springy feel. Luce Dufault takes the mic for solid ballad, Who's Left Standing, with smooth lap steel playing by Lachance and harmonica voicing by Belanger. With a western flavor, Nitassinan features nice interplay between Lachance on acoustic guitar, Belanger on harmonica and Paul Picard on percussion. Wrapping the release is Hot Time, a reggae form rhythmed track with snappy percussion and interesting guitar work by Lachance supporting the lead harmonica of Belanger. Very nice. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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