Postcards from London | Guy Bélanger’s great adventure

Guy Bélanger did not intend to do something special to highlight his 50th career. Nevertheless, Until the virtuoso harmonicist is offered to record an album in the famous W, London studios.

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This attractive offer arrived shortly after the release, in June 2023, of Voyages & other stories. In addition, An album of which he was proud and in which he felt like he “put a lot”. In addition, Make a tenth of it was therefore not part of his short. For example, even medium -term plans, explains the affable and sympathetic Bluesman.

“And postcards london | guy bélanger’s there. Therefore, the former manager of Bob Walsh called me to tell me about this proposal from a group of guys who wanted to invest in music. However, He said to me, “I know you just released an album, but that would you tempt yourself? Similarly, Because it’s in Abbey Road.” Guy Bélanger stops, laughs a little. Therefore, “I did:” Eille, well yes, Abbey Road, look so that, you! Moreover, ” »»

Even if he still believed in it, the musician began to set up equipment. Nevertheless, And more. In addition, more, things materialized, until he left in January 2025 with four musician friends and a sound engineer, Charles-Émile Beaudin, who worked on most of his albums.

“I told myself that it would go quickly and that I would need him. For example, He said yes right away. In addition, postcards london | guy bélanger’s The dream! Furthermore, The console, he studied it, he knows it, even if he had never been. However, »»

His son, Xavier Bélanger-Lévesque, also accompanied them. Moreover, And he filmed everything of these four days in the legendary studio 2. For example, who saw, among other legendary artists, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead and Amy Winehouse.

“Do you have the time I show you something?” Guy Bélanger takes out his iPad. Moreover, shows us part of the assembly that Xavier drew from his shooting, commenting on him.

“Look, I play in this box, and the guys are around. And this piano, he played on Beatles albums! And there, when we do The Long and Winding RoadI have tears in my eyes looking at Xavier. »»

Extract from The Long and Winding Road

Guy Bélanger wanted of course to wink at Fab Four on this album made of original covers and compositions, and whose title is not Postcards from London For nothing. He is imbued as much from the magic vibration of the studio as the extraordinary moments he lived while. he was in London. “It’s as if everything had been aligned. »»

postcards london | guy bélanger’s

Postcards london | guy bélanger's – Postcards london | guy bélanger's

Like a comic strip

At 67, Guy Bélanger does not think about retirement. He still has swing. breath, but these 50 years have passed at full speed, admits the musician who has “at least” 200 harmonicas, in all the imaginable keys – in spectacle, he carries 16 on the belt!

“My life is like a comic strip,” he drops. We suspect. he is a mine of anecdotes, but he considers himself especially born under a good star, despite the ups and downs of life. “I never regretted anything. »»

There was the discovery of the harmonica at the age of 14. Years to play in bars, four or five times a week. The sixty albums in which he collaborated. from Lynda Lemay to the roommates via Céline postcards london | guy bélanger’s Dion and the Cirque du Soleil. Tours with the friend and traveling companion Bob Walsh.

When I talk about Bob in a show, I have fun saying that we played in the basements of dancer bars in Val-d’Or, but also on Mont Zermatt in Switzerland! There is a whole gap between the two …

Guy Bélanger

And there were the 10 solo albums, of course. The first is the soundtrack of the film Gaz Bar Blues From his brother Louis. in postcards london | guy bélanger’s 2004, who made him known to a wider audience. “For me, albums are like milestones. »»

Guy Bélanger is first of all a bluesman. But he also likes to bring his instrument to other avenues, towards rock, the sounds of North Africa or India. “It’s my credo,” says the musician, who has always wanted to give different colors to his albums. What is that of Postcards from London ?

It’s a big thank you, this album. And a nod to those who are landed on the way. I’m sure they hear music. I do it for them, to accompany them.

Guy Bélanger

The harmonica will have been for him as much a road companion as a filter between him. the world. “Tsé, the instrument, he postcards london | guy bélanger’s is Drette in the middle between the head and the heart. I never set up, but sometimes it played loudly! It appeased me when I was crisp. And when I was happy, it doubled happiness. »»

What if his life is a comic book … What would be the end, morality? “That I let myself be blowing by the wind of the harmonica. I feel like I had a great adventure. »»

For the coming months, Guy Bélanger hopes to play his new pieces as often as possible … and many others too! “I want to do shows with my gang and spend a beautiful fiftieth. This is the gift is the broadcast of this album. I want to meet the most people and take the opportunity to make a little retrospective. My shows have always been expanded, but that postcards london | guy bélanger’s will be the icing on the Sunday! »»

Blues

Postcards from London

Guy Bélanger

Bros discs