2012 was an important year for the Eric St-Laurent Trio. Its members embarked for the first time on an international tour with stops across Canada, Germany and Holland.
Clearly benefiting from the road experience, the new album Dale – from the Spanish ‘Move it!’ – certainly packs a punch.
With superior, tighter performances from front man, guitarist Eric St-Laurent, percussionist Michel DeQuevedo and bassist Jordan O’Connor, the audience is treated to “a raucous dialogue between the artists, over infectious beats and catchy melodies.”
Featuring 10 new original compositions from St-Laurent, Dale focuses on how the trio sounds live.
“It is a true representation of the band’s performance on any given night,” explains St-Laurent, a key objective for this third album.
With no over dubs or studio tricks, the album exhibits the true talent and professionalism of the artists.
The album opens with the title track featuring the classic trio sound that fans have come to anticipate from this inventive group.
Expect to be bounced along from the positively sunny sounds of Pepper Sea to the reggae rhythms of Skinny Lizzard, with classic bass bits from O’Connor meshed with groovy licks from St-Laurent, distortion and all.
Then proceed with the eccentric, alternative pop-jazz sound of Tribox with seamless solos from St-Laurent and exhilarating percussion from DeQuevedo, and the boisterous juxtaposition of Iglibu.
Most exciting is the amazingly complex Uxulo, where St-Laurent again takes his audience away to another world with a quirky melody and exciting use of live electronics.
Dale provides a perfect showcase for the formidable Michel DeQuevedo, whose inventiveness both in solos and accompaniment is unparalleled; the virtuosity and agility of Jordan O’Connor, one of the most dextrous bass players around today; and Eric St-Laurent whose carefully crafted ability is at the heart of the group.
The Eric St-Laurent Trio brings their elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock guitar and blues to create a distinctive new sound at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at St. John’s Anglican Church.
Admission is by a suggesteded minimum donation of $15 at the door.
On Thursday, April 11, the Jazz Club presents The Cookers from Toronto, with their own unique blend of bop, soul, jazz and blues. The concert plays at 7 p.m. at the art gallery.
Next up, on April 18, it’s the Worst Pop Band Ever, and on April 25, the Jazz Club presents the Tiefenbacher Mayr Duo.