Jean Guy Grenier--deserves more recognition

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 4 Mar 2008 11:23 am

If you've never heard of this guy sit up and take notice. As far as I'm concerned he can hold his own with the very best anywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvNCtOmolE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr2OYPL_aQ4

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 4 Mar 2008 1:24 pm

Not a bad guitarist as well..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0CAYL9r ... re=related

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 5 Mar 2008 1:25 am

Hear Hear !

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 5 Mar 2008 1:15 pm

Surely he must have a CD or two; I'm interested in buying one, but I didn't have any luck looking. I really like this band, parlez bon.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 5 Mar 2008 2:37 pm

Charles, I really don't know a lot about the guy. Someone indicated at one point that he does a lot of studio work in Montreal but I've never heard of him having any instrumental recordings. I'm way off the beaten path here in eastern Quebec. There are a few forum members from the Montreal area who probably know Jean Guy personally so hopefully they might chime in. I just know his playing blows me away.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 7 Mar 2008 5:20 am

I hope that someone in the Montreal area will help out here. I only had one semester in French, (consequently I never went past St Catherine St. there), but I really enjoy this band. A DVD of this group would be a plus!

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 7 Mar 2008 7:53 am

Bob Tailfer (sp?), who also speaks French, could possibly know something about this great talent.
This guy is smooth, cool and deadly.
I've long known that there are a huge amount of great players in Quebec that no one has heard of because of the language barrier.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 7 Mar 2008 8:37 am

I have the impression that Jean Guy Grenier has a lot of irons in the fire. If you do a YouTube search for 'Country Connection' you'll find him singing english country and playing lead six string. It looks like that band may no longer be around. A year or two ago he was touring with Patrick Norman and may still be doing that. I saw his name among the credits on some Quebecois CD where he was playing fiddle. Someone related that he is a wizard on most anything with strings on it.
BTW Charles, in that first video clip Jean Guy is performing with the Patrick Norman show and it looks fairly recent. If you're in Montreal you might see if Patrick Norman is performing anywhere and quite likely that's where you'd find the elusive Monsieur Grenier.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 13 Mar 2008 8:41 am

Came across this last night...Jean Guy with Patrick Norman playing steel and bass similtaneously. Such versatility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux9VS2JtDq0

I missed a chance to see these guys live last year but hopefully they'll swing through here again eventually. Great stuff.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 13 Mar 2008 12:08 pm

This is awesome. A shame that this is the first time I have heard him play and he is practically in my back yard.
Darn right he deserves more recognition!

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 13 Mar 2008 2:28 pm

Thanks again Bill; I hope we can get some more of Jean Guy on the steel.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 13 Mar 2008 4:03 pm

I was just speaking to a friend who was at the Patrick Norman concert here last year and he tells me it was the same deal as that last video I linked to. They did a two man show for a packed auditorium and the crowd just ate it up. Patrick Norman may not be widely known outside of Quebec and New Brunswick but here he has been one of the best known peformers for many years and he's had many hit recordings singing both in french and in english. For him to tour with a single back-up musician says a lot about the talent of Jean Guy Grenier.
Charles, if I locate any stuff which is more steel oriented I'll put it up but it's not plentiful.

Pete Young · Post by **Pete Young** » 13 Mar 2008 7:12 pm

Jean guy is one of the best around A fab lead guiter player and a fab steel player.Also he is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.I am not sure if he put out a cd yet but I will check tomorrow.If you ever get a chance to see him grab it. You won't be sorry. The stuff you saw there is just a touch of what this guy can do.

Pete Young · Post by **Pete Young** » 13 Mar 2008 7:55 pm

Bill I just sent Jean Guy a message so I hope to hear from him soon. As soon as I get something I will put it up for people to hear

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 14 Mar 2008 3:37 am

Thanks Pete, that would be great! All I've been able to find are these little clips. It would be nice to hear much more. Do you know if Jean Guy is still performing with Patrick Norman these days? Also, is there someplace where he (Jean Guy) takes the stage on a regular basis?

David LeBlanc · Post by **David LeBlanc** » 14 Mar 2008 3:54 am

I have a CD from a guy named PAUL DWAYNE and JEAN GUY is the steel and dobro player and he is GREAT

I`d love to see him live.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 14 Mar 2008 4:40 am

Hi David. Paul Dwayne has done shows in this area a few times but apparently he wasn't carrying a steel player. I'll see if I can lay my hands on one of his CDs with Jean Guy on it.

Anne Giroux · Post by **Anne Giroux** » 15 Mar 2008 12:41 pm

Hi Bill, great clips of Jean Guy. Thanks so much for posting. Jean Guy is one multi-talented musician. I met him a few years ago and he blew me away. He does alot of studio work. I've also seen him many times working with Patrick Norman on French station, but he is perfectly bilingual. Will see if we can get some further info.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 16 Mar 2008 4:17 am

Hi Anne, glad you enjoyed the clips. Our bass player called last night to let me know that Jean Guy was on t.v. but of course it was one of the channels I don't get.

Pete Young · Post by **Pete Young** » 24 Mar 2008 10:53 am

Hi Bill Jean guy contacted Anne and got my email address from her so I hope to hear from him soon As soon as I get something I will let you know or put it up if I can figure how to do it

Steve Morley · Post by **Steve Morley** » 24 Mar 2008 1:43 pm

As if we need another excuse to visit Montreal!

Already there's plenty to do (and eat and see and hear).

Here's one of my favorite events:
http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/Fijm200 ... al_en.aspx
Nothing like seeing 120,000 people in the streets on a Wednesday evening, just enjoying the music, usually not a sign of trouble, either.

Thanks for the post.

Pete Young · Post by **Pete Young** » 24 Mar 2008 3:13 pm

How true Steve I make it to the fest every year two or three times Some guys there that could make your heart stop with their playing Out of the fifty or so times I have been there I have never seen trouble Summer is just one big ball here. Non stop for three months

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 25 Mar 2008 3:36 am

Thanks Pete. I'm not likely to see Jean Guy live any time soon so I look forward to anything you can post. By the way, if you're in contact with him can you inquire if he will be performing out in this end of the province over the next months?

Anne Giroux · Post by **Anne Giroux** » 26 Mar 2008 8:19 am

Hi Bill. You will be happy to know that Jean Guy advised me that he just joined the Forum. Let's hope he will post something soon.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 Mar 2008 11:20 am

ça fait plaisir de savoir que Jean Guy nous rejoint
c'est la bonne place !