John Tetrault
Hantsport, Nova Scotia, Canada
Music
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View all articles from Wendy Elliott/The Advertiser
Article online since December 4th 2008, 7:00
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John Tetrault.
Local musician playing for 'Keepsies' on latest CD
BY WENDY ELLIOTT
welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca
NovaNewsNow.com
Well known and respected locally as a musician and songwriter, John Tetrault has a new CD out. His second release is called Keepsies.
The John Tetrault Group features 11 of his songs on the recording with a jazzy, easy listening sound. The CD balances meaningful and fun lyrics and combines upbeat danceable tunes with slow, sentimental tunes.
Like his very popular Mermaid Café, Keepsies displays Tetrault’s Steely Dan-inspired guitar style with original lyrics and gentle vocals. Mike Watson's talent at the keyboard, saxophone and flute is present throughout.
Audience members at the well-attended CD release concert recently appreciated Watson’s artfully crafted solos. Two newer band members were also featured at the concert: drummer Jimmie Butt and bass player Mike Andrusyk. Long-time band member Jeff Smith brought his trumpet and flugel horn to the mix.
Darrin Harvey of 89.3 K-Rock calls Keepsies “truly a lesson; a lesson in playing and a lesson in songwriting. Fans of music will love this recording for the attention to detail and quality of the songs. Players of any instrument will marvel.
“The first thing that struck me was the guitar tone. Even more impressive is (as witnessed at his CD release show) he can and does recreate it live. John Tetrault is a performer not to be missed.”
Shares his passion
As a teacher and clinician for the last 30 years, Tetrault also enjoys sharing his passion for music with aspiring musicians. He has been teaching guitar and helping with bands at Kings-Edgehill School for years.
In addition, based out of Hantsport, he teaches private lessons and leads songwriting and guitar workshops. He has been a faculty member at the Acadia University Jazz Camp since 1990.
He has performed at the Halifax Jazz Festival and the Earth and Lunenburg Folk Festivals. His solo work includes appearances at private functions and community venues. Often called upon as a pit guitarist, he even played a stint at the Atlantic Theatre Festival.
The band will be featured at Stayner’s, the premiere jazz venue in Halifax, Feb. 6, 2009 and in the Valley at the Rotary Gala in Wolfville Feb. 21. Meanwhile, Tetrault’s other musical venture, Swingology, is booked at Stayner’s Feb. 7.
Both bands expect to be playing festivals in the region this summer and both bands have had radio play on CBC regionally and on local radio.
- Kentville Advertiser
Discography
Mermaid Cafe 1997 (album)
Keepsies 2008 (album) - nominated for the Music Nova Scotia Award for Best Blues Album 2009
Acadiana 2010 (album)
Airplay from Keepsies, Acadiana on CBC, AVR, Magic 97
Photos
Bio
A guitarist and vocalist, John performs his original works both with his bands, The New Orleans Beads and The John Tetrault Group, as well as solo. His two recent albums use a variety of jazz and blues influences to explore timeless themes reflected in current and past events.
John's 2010 album Acadiana brings together jazz-inspired tributes, dance tunes and ballands, acknowledging struggle and celebrating resilience, themes that, like the name of the album, connect the original home of the Acadians in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley with those who left to settle in New Orleans. This latest album takes John in a new direction, with fellow performers Rick and Sindy Strong, exploring the musical heritage of New Orleans in a concept album with more story-based songs than is typical in John's catelogue.
Life is a game of Keepsies. This line from the song Front Porch, on the John Tetrault Group's 2008 album, Keepsies, was written for a long-lost daughter and is about choices we make in our lives. John Tetrault and members of his group have been writing and playing together all their adult lives, sharing the ups and downs over the years. Their music reflects a diverse mosaic of influences from Steely Dan to (as the song 'For Keith' suggests) Lighthouse, drawing on Jazz and R & B. The band strikes a balance between respectful incorporation of musical influences with playful lyrics and reflects a synthesis of paying dues in many genres.
The John Tetrault group includes Jazz Educators (John Tetrault, Jeff Smith), music teachers (Tetrault, Smith and Mike Watson), an award-winning songwriter (Mike Andrusyk). All members of the band have considerable performance and touring experience. The band has played ECMA showcases, Music Nova Scotia showcases, numerous festivals and received radio airplay.
Darrin Harvey, of CIJK - 89.3 K-Rock was quoted in the Kentville Advertiser as saying, " Fans of music will love this recording for the attention to detail and quality of the songs. Players of any instrument will marvel. The first thing that struck me was the guitar tone. Even more impressive is (as witnessed at his cd release show) he can and does recreate it live. John Tetrault is a performer not to be missed.” Of the new album, Keepsies, Andy Flinn (The Grapevine, Oct 9, 2008) says, 'The disc is daring, funky, colorful, smooth and groovy. Groovy most of all. Gotta luv it!
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