Like the musician cat that he is, when it comes to put on a thrilling and entertaining show, it looks like the veteran Jay Sewall has nine lives! In addition, he has his own eclectic array of ideas and his surprising "bag of tricks" and rich experiences that he can draw from!

Yesterday, January 12th 2025, three in the afternoon at La Chapelle Spectacles, I attended a Jay Sewall & Guests entertaining and energetic show! It is one to be remembered as a top of the crop of Jay's shows and live performances!

Jay has the knack of putting on a show, just as he has proven ingredients and recipes of which he has the secret, the know-how and the touch to highlight them in a renewed way, each time. As the saying goes: “Experience can’t be bought!”



In the opening, there was the drum beats from his long-time friend and drummer, Barry Nameth, as the leader of the band enters the stage walking and expressing his soul, blowing into his harmonica, his cherished instrument!

After his energetic and heartfelt performance with diatonic harmonicas in three keys, that he offers like a greeting to the audience who filled the room to capacity, Nameth and he are joined on stage by the "old souls" of his pioneering beginnings in Quebec, André Larue, tenor sax, baritone sax and clarinet, David Parker, tenor sax and vocals, Paul Hinton, guitar and pedal steel guitar, as well as Serge Boutin, on bass...

The first pieces, including the very much descriptive, I'm Going To Chicago, roughly cover his experiences and blues & r&b compositions that he developed during his trips to Chicago and Detroit, with local musicians! These tunes are both with text and instrumental!...

André Larue shines particularly on the instrumental Motor City Blues with an expressive, elaborate, fiery and thrilling tenor sax solo! The caravan is progressing, the musicians and the room are warming up! The special guests will add their grain of salt and their magical touches in the second part!...

Back on stage, after a pleasant friendly break, Jay introduces us to his first special guest! This is Stéfanie Morin-Roy! She’s a harmonica player with great talent and pitch and one of his former students on the instrument. She is whole, passionate about music! Although still young, she has already paid quite some dues to the Blues, music and stage! She is ready, she has a confident presence and dynamic and elaborate delivery! The musicians and the public react appreciatively and strongly to her engaged and soulful performance!

Jay, the "master of ceremonies and of cats’ songs" takes us further and creates a magical moment with his masterful interpretation of his legendary title Belle-Amie Blues from his first album Be Bop Beluga released in 1994. During this participatory performance, he leads with experienced know-how and skill a choir of committed and willing spectators, queens and tomcats who respond willing and able at the drop of a hat!...

It's always a charm to hear the part where the choir of queens caresses so softly the ear with their high-pitched «meows»’s singing voices!… With their vibrant fine and feline expressions!



Among the proven hits in Jay's repertoire, there is, of course, the legendary song Be Bop Beluga which humorously tells the story of this heroic whale who survives the ravages of marine pollution. For this unique occasion, he invites on stage a dozen cheerful schoolgirls from the Holland Elementary School choir! The result is fresh, lively, spontaneous! Here again, a staging of which Jay has the secret and the art in the making!

As third special guest, Jay invites on stage the singer Monya Mathieu (Monya Mathieu Perso)! She appears like a dapper and fresh breeze, expressive, joyful and natural! She came to sing with her harmonica mentor, two titles from his excellent album, Duets 1. These are the catchy Shabby Doo Bop for which a video is available on You Tube and the sentimental and reflective ballad What To Do in which her voice blends and soars effortlessly with supple, shimmering and colorful accents!

Jay Sewall has several strings to his bow. He mastered the art of pacing and staging. He knows how to surprise and season his shows with blues feeling, Cajun spices, songs and creativity!

This surprising prospector and sprinkler of new ideas and trends, at the end of his show became the sprinkler watered!

Indeed, his great friend, the guitarist Paul Hinton, gave him the excellent surprise of inviting to the stage the gifted, percussionist, musician, actor, circus member etc. Fred Dyslexique Lebrasseur who knows how to magically transform a « planche à laver», washboard in such a diversified and versatile instrument! One of the best and most creative I’ve seen, anywhere! A treat! To my great astonishment and delight, André Larue, on the second washboard, provided a dense, playful and impeccable rhythm creating complicity and a synergistic "tintamarre" and a fabulous moment! After the show, to my great surprise, André told me that it was his first time on this everyday instrument! «Les bras m’en sont tombés!» Meaning: My jaw dropped!

Fred’s presence brought back to the memory of several musicians ans spectators present, including myself, the founding era of the first regular Blues Jam in Quebec City by Jay Sewall and a band of merry people at Les Voûtes Napoléon on Grande-Allée in the historic part of the town! Wow! How many talents, artistic vocations took root and developed from there!



The joyful noise, cathartic finale was pure jubilation with the rendition of the legendary New Orleans classic, Oh When The Saints Go Marching In! This essential and irreducible title gave rise to the climax of this memorable show!

Mr. Sewall, like a modern-day Pied Pier who would have traded his flute for an enchanted harmonica, brought after him the schoolgirl choristers, the singers and musicians in a New Orleans style musical parade which exuded sheer enthusiasm, singing and shouts, everywhere in La Chapelle!

I must say that when I come away nourished and full of soul from a Blues show... that I consider that I attended a genuine and excellent Blues show! I do believe that such a spectacle fills the holes in the soul and unites people!

This is what I experienced during this colorful performance offered by Jay Sewall, his musician friends, the singers, the very special guests and the cheering and participating public, on this memorable Sunday, January 12, 2025!

It was an inspiring musical happening shared with a watchful, then, engaged… and finally won over audience!

Jay Sewall & Special Guests, 2025! A signature show to be marked with a «blue stone»!...

À la prochaine!