No other media in Montreal has as many human resources on hand to provide expert coverage of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Jacob Langlois-Pelletier, Frédéric Cardin, Stephan Boissonneault, Michel Labrecque, Varun Swarup, Vitta Morales and Alain Brunet bring you their album reviews, concert reports and some interviews. Happy reading and listening!
At the helm of his blues band for 50 years, Stephen Barry has never had the voice of a great blues soloist, but… his relaxed vocals always come through, not unlike the tone of a JJ Cale. Stephen Barry has never been a great bass player, but he still manages to keep the tempo and produce his motifs without stumbling. At the helm of his blues band for 50 years, Stephen Barry has never had the voice of a great blues soloist, but… his laid back vocals always come through, not unlike the tone of a JJ Cale. Stephen Barry has never been a great bass player, but he still manages to keep the tempo and produce his motifs without stumbling. Able to make us forget his own limitations, Stephen Barry has always been an exciting artist.
And that’s still the case after half a century of blues, as evidenced by his commemorative album under the Only A Dream banner. Don’t look for a contradiction here, rather a contrast: thought and creative imagination regularly prevail in such forms, experience and subtlety can prevail over technique, and this is certainly the case with this leader and, let’s face it, blues thinker who knows how to dress for special occasions (skullcap, jacket and copper sneakers!) and who knows how to surround himself to serve his inspiration: Andrew Cowan, guitar, vocals and bright red jumpsuit, Jody Golick, tenor and soprano saxophones and cruisewear, Martin Boodman, diatonic harmonica and vocals, Gordie Adamson, drums and vocals. All experienced pros, loyal to Stephen Barry for ages, and what can we say about the choral contributions of Sylvie Choquette and Suzanne Lamontagne, invited to flesh out this appearance at FIJM 2024.
A nerdy artist fascinated by blues and other North American musical strains, Stephen Barry has always approached the blue note with respect, circumspection and, what’s more, a self-deprecating sense of humor. His music repels orthodoxy and purism, and his blues is peppered with brilliant stylistic appropriations, such as the cover of .
“Freedom Jazz Dance”, a superb Eddie Harris standard with a hell of a theme for the sax, this time served up in a boogaloo rhythm! Or Stephen Cassonade Faulkner’s country “Si j’avais un char”, the only song performed in French by our beloved Montrealer. Or Marvin Gaye’s funky soul “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”.
The Stephen Barry Band had a very pleasant encounter with the audience that filled the Gesù to capacity on Thursday June 27, 2024, half a century since the start of this cruise.
crédit photo : Victor Diaz Lamich pour le FIJM
