From the classroom to the studio: A chat with jazz musician Pierre Vaillancourt

ALEXANDRIA – A local music teacher has released a new album and he says it’s the perfect soundtrack for enjoying his retirement.

Pierre Vaillancourt taught for 24 years at Glengarry District High School in Alexandria. He also started the music program at Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute in the early 1970s. 

Vaillancourt’s favourite instrument has always been the organ and he recently rediscovered a vintage Hammond B3 he had been keeping in the basement.

This classic instrument is well-known in music circles. It was invented in 1934 and production stopped only in the 1970s; Fans like Vaillancourt say nothing can match its warm bluesy sound.

 

“I have been playing this organ since 1978, but I recently had it re-tuned and greased. It sounds wonderful,” he said.

Vaillancourt said he was approached by his son Paul who teaches percussion at Columbus state University in Georgia and is a drummer.

The father and son started playing music and before long Vaillancourt found himself in Georgia recording with his son and guitarist Robert Orr.

The group recorded the entire album in two 12-hour days, playing each song a few times over but not editing afterwards.

“This is what you would call an old-fashioned recording. It’s all analog and we didn’t go onto the computer to edit or add arrangements,” he said.

Since the Hammond B3 is so prominent and there are three musicians, the group decided to call themselves Be3.

Vaillancourt describes the record as a good opportunity to “sit back and enjoy a glass of wine,” since it is all jazz and blues instrumentals.

“I retired and said, why don’t I try and do this full-time,” he said with a laugh.

The band will have a CD release party on June 27 in Alexandria at the Bonnie Glen Pavilion and is also scheduled to play in Ottawa’s Bluesfest.

 

THIS WEEK ONLINE:
Listen to The Review’s Phil Morin in conversation with Pierre Vaillancourt as well as samples of the new CD.