Uploaded June 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Among the most distinctive, and genre bending musicians in Quebec, Jazz bassist Normand Guilbeault has made a career of mixing... mixing musical styles, politics, culture... But like steps on a journey, each facet comes straight from the musician's life, and is laid out before and behind him, a litany of footprints in the Canadian mosaic.
Growing up in a neighborhood that was, in his words, "more or less difficult", Guilbeault cites music as his salvation. Indeed, this documentary hinges on the redemptive properties of music, but also, more importantly, the realization that music can become a platform from which to express ideas.
A Canadian of aboriginal heritage, Guilbeault is one of the few accomplished Jazz musicians to fuse traditional aboriginal music with improvised Jazz. Following in the footsteps of American Jim Pepper, Guilbeault takes the energized synthesis one step further, adding the layer of social conscience.
Guilbeault's seminal 1999 work, "Riel, Plaidoyer musical" (musical plea) eloquently recast the historical record surrounding Canadian Métis leader Louis Riel, who was excecuted for treason in 1885, despite being thrice elected to the Canadian House of Commons.
As history is often shaped by the powerful, it is fitting and impressive that Guilbeault's Riel project succeeds to put forth a dissenting counterpoint; a counterpoint that has both traction and sympathy in French speaking Quebec. The power and consequence of his action to 'rehabilitate' Riel's place in history is an inspiring example of art's power, when art is bent towards social justice.
Shot at Le Cercle in Quebec City, the film also touches on Guilbeault's other projects, including a hard driving Mingus tribute, an intriguing interpretation of Jack Kerouac's prose, and Guilbeault's recent work, Kawandak, a delightful hybrid of Jazz and traditional aboriginal song.
Filmé et enregistré dans Le Cercle, la ville de Québec, 22 mai 2014
Filmed and recorded at Le Cercle, Québec City, May 22nd 2014
Hommage Mingus:
Normand Guilbeault
contrebasse et direction musicale / bass and musical direction
Jean Deromes - saxophones
Ivanhoe Jolicoeur - trompette / trumpet
Matthieu Bélanger - clarinettes / clarinet
Normand Deveault - piano
Claude Lavergne - batterie / drums
Kawandak:
Normand Guilbeault
contrebasse, voix & direction musicale / bass, voice & musical direction
Rachel Bonneau - voix / voice
Sylvain Provost - guitares / guitar
Claude Lavergne - batterie / drums
Film de / by Randy Cole
Camera 2 - Josh Hansen
Audio - Pierre Poulin
Mix- Randy Cole
info / booking: arteborealagency.com
Among the most distinctive, and genre bending musicians in Quebec, Jazz bassist Normand Guilbeault has made a career of mixing... mixing musical styles, politics, culture... But like steps on a journey, each facet comes straight from the musician's life, and is laid out before and behind him, a litany of footprints in the Canadian mosaic.
Growing up in a neighborhood that was, in his words, "more or less difficult", Guilbeault cites music as his salvation. Indeed, this documentary hinges on the redemptive properties of music, but also, more importantly, the realization that music can become a platform from which to express ideas.
A Canadian of aboriginal heritage, Guilbeault is one of the few accomplished Jazz musicians to fuse traditional aboriginal music with improvised Jazz. Following in the footsteps of American Jim Pepper, Guilbeault takes the energized synthesis one step further, adding the layer of social conscience.
Guilbeault's seminal 1999 work, "Riel, Plaidoyer musical" (musical plea) eloquently recast the historical record surrounding Canadian Métis leader Louis Riel, who was excecuted for treason in 1885, despite being thrice elected to the Canadian House of Commons.
As history is often shaped by the powerful, it is fitting and impressive that Guilbeault's Riel project succeeds to put forth a dissenting counterpoint; a counterpoint that has both traction and sympathy in French speaking Quebec. The power and consequence of his action to 'rehabilitate' Riel's place in history is an inspiring example of art's power, when art is bent towards social justice.
Shot at Le Cercle in Quebec City, the film also touches on Guilbeault's other projects, including a hard driving Mingus tribute, an intriguing interpretation of Jack Kerouac's prose, and Guilbeault's recent work, Kawandak, a delightful hybrid of Jazz and traditional aboriginal song.
Filmé et enregistré dans Le Cercle, la ville de Québec, 22 mai 2014
Filmed and recorded at Le Cercle, Québec City, May 22nd 2014
Hommage Mingus:
Normand Guilbeault
contrebasse et direction musicale / bass and musical direction
Jean Deromes - saxophones
Ivanhoe Jolicoeur - trompette / trumpet
Matthieu Bélanger - clarinettes / clarinet
Normand Deveault - piano
Claude Lavergne - batterie / drums
Kawandak:
Normand Guilbeault
contrebasse, voix & direction musicale / bass, voice & musical direction
Rachel Bonneau - voix / voice
Sylvain Provost - guitares / guitar
Claude Lavergne - batterie / drums
Film de / by Randy Cole
Camera 2 - Josh Hansen
Audio - Pierre Poulin
Mix- Randy Cole
info / booking: arteborealagency.com
