Guy Bélanger - Traces & Scars (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

The 7th recording of Guy Bélanger’s eventful career showcases the composer, band leader and harp master at the top of his game. The album includes 10 superb instrumental Folk and Blues compositions and two songs, one of which sung by Quebec favourite Luce Dufault. Virtuoso guitar player Preston Reed (Scotland) and cello master Eric Longsworth also contribute. Guy Bélanger has received many awards for his songwriting, the latest the André Gagnon Award from the Spacq last September.

“My Dearest Friend” is a track dedicated to one of Guy’s closest friends, Bob Walsh. The harmonica on this track is phenomenal and it pulls everything together. You can hear the story line behind the instrumentals and the slow but meaningful sound.

“Traces & Scars” is a great collaboration between a cellist from France, Eric Longsworth and Guy Bélanger. It is a song that tells of the journey of life through the musical instruments played.

“Hot Time” is a track with some good ol’ VooDoo traces sliding in and out throughout the song. With the facts between our French culture in Canada creating the famous Louisiana city and dating back to the war of 1812 and implementing that amazing culture. You can feel the culture pour out in this song.

So with all these perfectly put together tracks, along with the French culture, blues and folk sound, it has a way of opening your mind, as well as your imagination up.

Tracklist:
01. My Dearest Friend
02. Better Days
03. Fat Boy (feat. Preston Reed)
04. Les mauvaises herbes
05. Little Heart
06. See the Light
07. Traces & Scars (feat. Eric Longsworth)
08. Common Ground
09. Kalaw (feat. Claude Fradette)
10. Who's Left Standing (feat. Luce Dufault)
11. Nitassinan
12. Hot Time

Personnel:
Guy Bélanger, harmonica, vocals
André Lachance, guitars, vocals
Rob MacDonald, guitar
Kaven Girouard, guitar
Preston Reed, guitar
Marc-André Drouin, double bass, guitars, piano
Michel Roy, drums, percussions
Luce Dufault, vocals (on “Who’s left Standing”)
Claude Fradette, vocals (on “Kalaw”)
Eric Longsworth, vocals (on “Traces & Scars”)