Marc-Andre Séguin

Influences

Jazz
Classical (baroque to present)
Blues, Rock, Hard Rock, Prog, Metal

My mentors:

Gary Schwartz
Réjean Gauvreau
Charles Ellison
Chris McCann

  also...

Greg et Steve Amirault
Jim Doxas
Clinton Ryder
Dave Turner

My heroes

Duke Ellington
Miles  Davis

Jim Hall
Ed Bickert
Pat Metheny
Wes Montgomery

Keith Jarret
Bill Evans
Bud Powell
Thelonious Monk

Charles Mingus
Dave Holland

Elvin Jones
Bill Stewart
Paul Motian
Peter Erskine
Jack Dejonette


Wayne Shorter
Joshua Redman
Joe Lovano
David Liebman
John Coltrane

Chet Baker
Freddie Hubbard

Bio - Long Version

  Guitarist Marc-André Séguin, borned and raised in the Outaouais region of Québec, now living in Montréal, has started early his journey into the wonderful, yet amazingly intricate world of music.

Having played the guitar for more than a decade now, Marc-André remembers well the feeling of touching the instrument for the first time. It was love! And the love affair is still going strong. The old couple have been through a lot together : Different styles, different goals, different bands… But the passion has only been growing.  At first, rock and metal’s vibes were flowing in the air, but soon enough,  a totally unexpected turn of events followed. Marc-André met jazz.  And jazz stood tall before him!  From the teachings of his former music high school teacher and now friend Réjean Gauvreau, he envisioned another way of playing and feeling music. Today, he is still following this jazzy path, keeping everything he has learned from the other styles not too far in his guitar case. Jazz isn’t as high up now, it has comfortably found its way at the tip of the guitarist’s agile fingers.  

It’s always possible to catch him performing at a jazz club and, the next day, see him at a pop choir rehearsal… Anything can happen once you’ve unsolved a big part of music’s puzzles. His learning goes beyond the academic lessons; he researches every last tiny bit of musical information he can get his hands on.   In that spirit, Marc-André is always ready to teach the way around this divine instrument to those wanting to learn. It’s his second nature!  Also, knowing the effect the right mentorat can have on a young (or even older) student, sky’s the limit and he’s willing to prove it!  After all, he does have a scientific past, having started his university years doing a science major at the University of Ottawa. A year and a half later though, he was following that little voice telling him that that left turn at the music department was truly the one for him. Since then, he has graduated in classical music and has obtained a second bachelor’s degree, in jazz music this time, from Condordia University, in Montréal.

Studying at Concordia University as given him great musical opportunities, such as being able to play with experienced musicians like Gary Schwartz, Dave Turner, Charles Ellison, Chris McCann, Adam Over and Eric Harding, just to name a few.   

Talented, perseverent and passionnate are only some of the words that describe best Marc-André Séguin as a musician and as an individual.  He has already been awarded various prizes and honors, including :  Winner at the first Grand Prix de Guitare de Montréal (2006) in the jazz portion, nominated for the Oscar Peterson scholarship 2007-08 by his teacher Charles Ellison and winner of the Couleur Jazz scholarship 2007-08.

When there is passion… 

Make sure you keep an eye open for Marc-André’s performances, there will be many of them to come in a very near future! The year 2008 is opening new doors for the musician. Amongst other shows and gigs, it will be possible to hear him live at this year’s International Jazz Festival in Montréal.

With a life philosophy based on the idea that one must follow their passions and make way for their dreams, Marc-André Séguin is not in search of fame, only a better way to strum the human being’s sensitive cords.
 

Annick C-Lacroix 2008