Jean-François Bélanger
A composer and multi-instrumentalist, Jean-François Bélanger has perfected a highly personal vision of traditional music. His carefully structured compositions have earned him recognition for his maturity, audacity and versatility. After several years of studying fiddle, he continued to learn and explore on his own on a multitude of different instruments. For the past few years he has focused on the nyckelharpa, a Scandinavian fiddle that is making a new mark on this Québec composer’s roots-based sound. Jean-François has received much recognition for his unusual and profoundly beautiful work that blends his own Québec roots with influences from other traditions.
His 2014 recording Les Vents Orfèvres featured Scandinavian influences; a second recording, Les entrailles de la montagne, was released in 2017, featuring the involvement of twenty veteran trad musicians from Québec and New England, including Susie Napper, Olivier Fortin, Natalie Haas, Yann Falquet and the Claudel-Canimex quartet.
Recording nominations include :
- Prix Opus 2015/16 – Concert of the Year – Jazz and World Music
- Prix Opus 2014/15 – Recording of the Year – World Music
- Canadian Folk Music Awards 2015 – Artist of the Year – World Music
- Canadian Folk Music Awards 2015 – Album of the Year – Solo instrumental
- ADISQ (Québec “Grammy”) 2015 – Album of the Year – Traditional
Press for his recordings :
“A superb creation with Nordic, ancient and baroque accents
as well as trad and folk” – Le Devoir
“A small treasure… a magic disc that sets you dreaming” La Presse
“Supremely beautiful… an exceptional album” Son & Image magazine
“A lovely and ambitious work… a creation of intemporal beauty” Ici Musique
“A marvel of invention and poetry… truly beautiful” Radio CKRL
In addition to four of his own albums, he has collaborated on more than twenty recordings.
Biographie à venir.