Nos stars chantent le blues à Montréal !
Production, arrangements and musical direction: Paul Deslauriers
(except for Bad To The Bone by Dan Bigras, Blue Valentines by Stephane Dufour and Midnight Special by Nicolas Petrowsky)
Musicians: Paul Deslauriers (guitar), Sam Harrisson (drums), Grégoire Morency (bass) and Bob Stagg (keyboards)
Yann Perreau, Zachary Richard, Patrick Huard, Nadja, Éric Lapointe…
Montreal, Monday, June 14, 2026 - Following the blockbuster success of the album Nos stars célèbrent le jazz à Montréal, this year, Spectra Musique and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal present a major celebration of the blues with Nos stars chantent le blues à Montréal. The proceeds from this magnificent album will contribute in particular to staging forthcoming editions of the annual Blues Camp, the popular musical day camp presented entirely free of charge as part of the Festival.
Nos stars chantent le blues à Montréal kicks off with Yann Perreau-accompanied by the chorale du Camp de blues (Blues Camp Choir) under the direction of Vincent Beaulne-appearing for the first time ever on an album of classic blues covers, with his passionate take on Elmore James’ Shake Your Money Maker, while Zachary Richard, our very own most worthy representative of the American deep south, rolls out a country-blues remake of Midnight Special. Patrick Huard’s heart-rending version of Aline, one of the first great blues ever written en français (according to the songwriter, Christophe!), a ’60s hit, is finally immortalized on disc, and the dazzling Nadja and her spouse Taurey Butler take on You Can Have My Husband (Don’t Mess With My Man), the classic by Irma Thomas, First Lady of New Orleans. Jonas and Frank Marino beautifully reinvent the Bo Diddley classic, Who Do You Love, a song we would have thought belonged exclusively to the great George Thorogood, while the unique voice of Plume (bonus track) glows in a touching and autobiographical Bordeaux Beach Blues, and a surprising Mario Pelchat brings the full measure of his considerable vocal talent to a delightful medley of three golden blues moments from Elvis’ career: Heartbreak Hotel, Reconsider Baby and Lawdy Miss Clawdy. As ever, the female blues perspective entrances us, as Catherine Major meets Steve Hill to declare I Just Want To Make Love To You. Meanwhile, Éric Lapointe pays a visit to Tom Waits with Blue Valentines, bringing the song a striking dramatic depth, with hypnotic guitar support from Stéphane Dufour; and monumental modern blues classic Bad To The Bone doesn’t intimidate Dan Bigras in the slightest: on the contrary, he has the Baddest good time with it! Finally, a little-known Robert Charlebois masterpiece, Que-Can Blues, released in 1974 (bonus track), and Dimanche Blues (bonus track), a marvelous and rare live cut by a first-generation Offenbach bring this musical event of an album to a perfect bluesy close.
The hero of this most enjoyable cause is none other than Paul Deslauriers. An infinitely skilled guitarist, a peerless arranger, his mission was to weave the magic from these musical encounters. Without his expertise and enthusiasm, this beautiful musical summation of the local blues spirit would certainly not have been the same. He and his musician friends were able to bring the perfect coloration to every facet of every track they worked on. We’ve bolstered these new interpretations with tracks from the vaults which simply could not be overlooked. Québec has been part of the blues tradition for ages and ages, and those who devoted themselves so masterfully to the music should be saluted. Consider it done.
Stringing us along; Guitarist Paul Deslauriers' career on the rise
By Kathleen Hay
Paul Deslauriers is in a chatty mood.
En route from Victoriaville back home to Montreal, it's been a hectic but very enjoyable weekend for Cornwall's native son, who also happens to be among Canada's guitar elite.
"Don't worry, I've got one of those little headsets," he ensures laughing, when asked if he's on a cellphone. "No, no, it's safety first, no worries.
"We're fine!"
Things are more than fine for Deslauriers these days.
It's difficult for even him to fathom at times, but the 37-year-old has been carving out a successful living in the music business for two decades now. With five albums under his belt, numerous nominations and multiple awards, he's currently in hot demand as part of a duo with Dawn Tyler Watson, renowned as Montreal's 'Queen of the Blues,' and with whom he recorded a new CD, "En Duo."
The response to the latest effort has been nothing short of incredible.
Although it was only launched in May, the duo have been featured on the national CBC show, "Sounds Like Canada," with host Shelagh Rogers, then they opened for Dr. Maya Angelou at Place des Arts. A few weeks later they showcased at The Jazz Emporium on New Orleans' famed Bourbon Street, in preparation for the CD's upcoming U.S. release in October.
Last week they each received nominations for the 5th annual Quebec Lys Blues Awards as Male Artist and Female Artist of the Year.
Not too shabby at all.
"Things are really going well," bubbled Deslauriers. "Sales are brisk, and we've even restocked some stores a few times.
"Definitely, there's a sense of reward here. It was really intended as a side project, but Dawn and I get along great, and for me it's a real joy."
Deslauriers, an Ecole secondaire La Citadelle grad, studied violin at Cornwall's Musica school until he was 14. However, an early love affair had already begun with the acoustic, then electric guitar, by age 10. Mostly self-taught, he had a natural talent for it, studied one year at the University of Ottawa, then transferred to McGill University's jazz guitar programme.
Like most local musicians, too, there were the usual gigs at places like La Maison, Johnny Mac's, the Taboo Room, even the Cornwall Bandshell - a far cry from the stages of Montreal and Ottawa's jazz and blues festivals where he now regularly performs.
"I'm blessed that I've been able to make a living doing what I love," he says. "The music business is a really strange place, it's a lot of work and you need to really keep at it.
"But I could never imagine not playing music. What would be the point?"
Deslauriers first gained acclaim in the 1990s as a founding member of Black Cat Bone, deemed by many critics at the time to be "one of Canada's hottest blues-rock bands." Since 1997 he has fronted the Paul Deslauriers Band and, proudly showing his rock colours and his true-to-the-blues roots, he released his newest album called "Ripping Into Red (July 2006)."
When he's not doing his own thing, he'll often get the nod to share his guitar and vocal talents on tour with the likes of Amanda Marshall, Garou, France D'amour and Nicola Ciccone, to name a few.
As fate would have it, that's precisely the way he and Dawn Tyler Watson hooked up musically in 2004.
"It was sort of a funny set of circumstances," explained Deslauriers, who was featured in the April 2007 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. "Obviously, we each have our own bands, but we shared a common drummer.
"One time she needed a guitarist, and I ended up playing with her band."
There was an immediate chemistry in their approach, notes Deslauriers. It's one of the those things you either have or you don't have, he says, and they had it.
"It was a very organic process for us, it came together real slowly," he explained. "We push each other one step further all the time, we both have the same sense of adventure, even if we flub it, it's there and gone.
"Dawn is also a jazz artist, I'm in rock and roll, and we meet in blues."
The CD, "En Duo," is certainly a different style for Deslauriers, who's known for his blistering electric work. With the simple honesty of two voices and a six-string guitar, it's been described by critics as "one of the most raw and unencumbered records to come along in decades."
Back porch blues.
"We both come from an improvisational background," he continues. "It keeps it interesting for us, every song is different every time we play.
"We both like to push the envelope."
The ease of performing together also transpires in touring, too. With their band careers, each performer has had to deal with the angst of sound equipment, roadies, backup people when touring.
Not so this time.
"The logistics are really easy," Deslauriers said. "We pack up a car, it's easy to travel and we can do a lot of different venues - there's a lot of comfort for both of us and we're comfortable leaning on each other.
"It's a very rare thing for it to happen."
For Deslauriers, twice-nominated for Quebec's 2006 Lys Blues Awards, and bringing home the award for 'Best Performance' in 2005 - not to mention this year's nomination for 'Male Artist of the Year,' life is sweet. When he's not performing, he does a bit of private teaching, something he finds real joy in doing.
"I see myself in these kids, and I'm almost going to be 40 now. I continue to love music every day of my life, no matter what. It's such a great feeling to be able to make music, I'm really blessed," Deslauriers says.
Paul Deslauriers -Ripping Into Red “Commander”
Deslauriers really knows how to grab your ears from note one. On “Commander,” his slippery, wild-ass riffs are underpinned with “yeahs” that drive the intro into your head like a velvet spike. Yum. He’s also a gifted songwriter and vocalist, and his solos—especially the slide lines—are short, but thrilling.
Paul Deslauriers-Ripping Into Red
Mmmm, ear candy...
Five Stars
author: BRR
Well if you're a fan of outstanding guitar work, this one's for you. Perhaps more known for his bluesmanship, Deslauriers shows us that he can rock out with the best of them. The album is well rounded with rock, blues and everything in between, which really shows his true diversity. The disc reeks of heartfelt emotion and you know that he's genuinely connected to these songs. Right from the get go, the tone is set with the track "Yes Man" and the rest of the album follows through. Stellar vocals and catchy riffs throughout... This is a fiver for me...
Paul Deslauriers Limited Edition EP
I really enjoy the music on this EP and it has been a regular in my CD player since acquiring it several months ago. This EP teases us with 3 songs that, while being lyrically and musically diverse, appeal to all the emotions. Track one, the edgy song Lie 4 U, hints at Deslauriers' rock'n blues roots with great guitar work and some in your face lyrics that will get your attention (and remind you a little of Lenny K.). The next track, I Only Wish I Could, is my favorite of the trio on the EP. A haunting ballad that, again, features great lyrics and excellent vocal harmonies on the chorus. I found myself listening to this song over and over again. Great stuff. The third track is a little more main stream and fun/upbeat, leaving the listener refreshed and wanting more. The song is fab 4 meets the Odds with great three part harmonies and a good toe tapping beat. Overall I'd recommend this EP to anyone and the folks that I have played it for have enjoyed it as well. Those who know Paul for his blues and work with former band Black Cat Bone will appreciate his latest musical endeavors.
Black Cat Bone Featuring Paul Deslauriers-Bone-ified
This is a re-release of Black Cat Bone's second, 1995, album. Guitar ace Paul Deslauriers and virtuoso pianist Paul Buonassissi recorded this blues rock extravaganza at the Queen's in Nanaimo while on a cross country tour opening for Colin James. Craig Soon on bass and Jerry Adolphe on drums round out this explosive quartet. The album apparently sold very well at the time and it's not hard to understand why. Deslauriers is a powerhouse on guitar, generating a monster sound. Fans of the Clapton/Hendrix songbooks will be amazed at his prowess. Buonassissi is a very good foil but his playing is often overwhelmed by the onslaught from the other side of the stage. There are three originals, "Mr. Fiction (an oft-played video), "Misery" and "Mad". I think these are better than the covers but then I've heard those very often. The almost twenty minute version of "Hey Joe" is a treat, though, never losing interest and showing a great sense of dynamics. The album is beautifully recorded. Cornwall-born Deslauriers studied jazz at McGill, playing in bands to pay his way and had re-located to Vancouver with Buonassissi. Black Cat Bone was dissolved a year after this recording after Buonassissi suffered career-ending injuries in a near-fatal car accident. Deslauriers has since toured with France D'amour and Amanda Marshall. This re-release is in preparation for Deslauriers' solo album due early in the new year followed by a duo CD with Dawn Tyler Watson.
Black Cat Bone Featuring Paul Deslauriers-Bone-ified
Recorded at the Queens Hotel in Nanaimo (Island Pacific Studios 'neath the stage), "BONE-IFIED" is one of the best live productions I've heard to date. This CD was produced by Jerry Adolphe, recorded by John MacLean & Sheldon Zaharko and Mixed at Blue Wave Studios. The superb performances throughout are a real treat. If you dig bonafide electric blues, Paul Deslauriers' expressively-searing guitar and slide solos will most-definitely knock your sox off (Paul has played the Montreal International Jazz Festival with his own band on 3 seperate occasions). His rich vocals are exceptionally dynamic and soulful. Paul Buonassisi's rapid-fire honky-tonkin' keyboards add to the frenzy of the fast tracks and provide a rich jazzy texture to the mellower tunes (he has shared the stage with Martha Reeves and James Cotton). Drum dynamo Jerry Adolphe (Jim Byrnes, Sass Jordan, Pinetop Perkins, Taj Mahal, Spirit Of The West, Laurie Jordan, Cash McCall, Albi, Oliver And The Elements, etc.) and bassist-extraordinaire Craig Soon (Guitar Shorty, Eddie Shaw) kick ass up and down the Richter scale. My favourite tracks: "Crossroads"-a funky version of Robert Johnson's classic with lots of ripping slide guitar. The rawness of this opening track belies the more "cleaner" or mellow material that follows. "Mr. Fiction"-rich guitar and keyboard chordings embellish this heavy-duty ballad about trust. "So wake up my fearless friend, to everything there is an end, and don't believe that you can't gain from learning to love the pain." "Walkin' Blues"- Not for pedestrians mayhaps, Paul almost breaks that E-string!!! "Hey Joe" - At first, I wasn't expecting much from this track (I've heard 400,000 versions and jammed this song 11 million times since I was fifteen). However, the warm chord structure in Joe always lends itself to wonderfully depraved noodling & gymnastics. BCB's rendition is loaqded with clever little hooks, razors and steel-toed boots. Goes down real good with any drink that uses beer for a chaser! A Victoria newspaper critic recently suggested that BCB's version of Hey Joe was "Bon Jovi-fied out of control wankin'". As a guitarist with nearly 30 years of professional experience, I can assure you that Paul's guitar expertise is very much in control (I wish I could play a 10th of his materfully-executed licks!!!). -BCN
