RÉVEILLONS!
Montréal, Québec, Canada
Quebecois
2008 marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec, the home of Réveillons! ("Wake up!"). During the intervening four centuries, a distinct musical style has developed around the kitchen hearths and in the dance halls of the region. The descendants of French immigrants passed down songs and stories in the mother tongue, slowly incorporating influences from the music of their Irish and Scots neighbors to create a uniquely Québécois repertoire. Réveillons! own repertoire draws from this musical history and also incorporates bold interpretations and new compositions that showcase the continued dynamism of traditional music in the 21st century. The heart of Réveillons! music remains linked to the dance halls and bars where the Québécois community comes together in celebration.
Réveillons! includes brothers David and Jean-François Berthiaume, Richard Forest, and Marc Maziade. David and Jean-François, the keepers of a long family music tradition from Québec's Richelieu Valley, founded the group in 1996. Jean-François is known for his percussive abilities on both the bodhran and that most distinctive of Québecois rhythmic instruments, the feet. He is also an expert dance caller who has honed the technique of turning "calling" into song. David plays the jaw harp, step dances, and is a master singer who draws on his family's vast repertoire of traditional songs.
Richard Forest (fiddle) has, since the 1970s played a major role in the revival of Québécois music, and has composed a number of the genre's most popular contemporary tunes. His "incontestable swing" puts him in the top tier of Québécois fiddlers. The multitalented Marc Maziade (guitar, tenor banjo, voice) is currently completing a Master's Degree in composition at University of Montreal. His formal and informal studies span the rich traditions of folklore, jazz, flamenco, and classical music.
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