On September 16, 2007, Salle Pierre Mercure at the Centre Pierre-Péladeau in Montréal Québec was the site of a reunion between two generations of musicians as Ville Emard Blues Band took to the stage as part of the 2nd annual Festival Des Musiques Progressives de Montréal (FMPM). Four of the original members of the famed 1970s musical ensemble were joined by 10 members of a "new" generation, including some of their children. The concert was captured for posterity on a CD released by ProgQuébec.
Born as a workshop for various session musicians in the Montreal area, Ville Emard Blues Band was an eclectic mix of rock, blues, and jazz. It spawned both a studio album and a live album. It also gave birth to offshoot bands, most notably Contraction and Toubabou. The original material released by the band became ProgQuébec's first ever re-release and it instigated a revival of sorts, with the band playing a couple of shows in a revamped formation, featuring two generations of musicians.
The show played at the FMPM features songs penned by various members and ex-members of the band that were either recorded by the band itself or one of the offshoot bands mentioned above. The point was to emphasize the "progressive" side of the bands in order to fit in with the overall context of the festival. The result is an extremely high-energy show. Rotating up to 14 musicians on stage, including several percussionists and vocalists, Ville Emard Blues Band presented a jazzy, funky, rock extravaganza. Classic Québecois anthems like "Octobre (Au Mois De Mai)", "Ste-Mélanie Blues", and "Yama Nekh" (which the band had released as a single in the early 70s) all have new life breathed into them. There were many impromptu jam sessions, with the band pushing the music into some extended percussive jams and even a little avant-garde jazz.
I happened to be a volunteer at this FMPM so I have an intimate rapport with this recording. I remember the buzz backstage as all members were arriving. I remember having the hairs on my arms rise up as the female vocalists warmed up in their dressing room. I remember feeling the energy the band was giving off as I stood just off stage during the opening numbers. It was with great anticipation that I awaited this disc, and it was worth it. Everything I remember about this performance has been brilliantly captured here.
This disc is an essential addition for those who already own the band's previous output and possibly the best introduction to their music for those who have never heard it. The FMPM is an excellent festival showcasing Québecois talent as well as international artists. May it live on and keep releasing quality live recordings.
Track Listing:
- Soumis/Octobre (Au Mois De Mai)
- La Poutine A Ma Tante Anna
- Ste-Mélanie Blues
- 42 Nord
- Pixieland
- Walter's Van
- Poireaux Névrosés
- Konky Donky
- Ambush
- Strangle/ Solos De Drums Et Percussions
- Yama Nekh
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