Rare live performances with Magella Cormier

beat hit · Postby **beat hit** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:14 pm

As far as I am concerned, I can never find enough recordings with the great Magella Cormier on drums. His huge listening ears, explosive chops are the kinds that inspire me each time I hear them. Problem is.. There arn't enough of his recording..

Just discovered these tracks this evening... Hopefully they will inspire many HODers as it did me... James Gelfand was then touring promoting his new CD Times Zones.

Side note... Back in the early 90's in Montreal, guitarist Jerry Devilliers and his band "Turning Point" were THE sought-after fusion band for Montreal musicians. The hot venue then was "L'Air Du Temps". It's kinda.. you know how L.A. have the Baked Potato featuring names attracting musicians from around and out of town. That's the reason why Alain Caron invited both Devilliers and Cormier to play on his first solo CD. Hopefully I can share some of "Turning Point" materials with y'all some day..

Magella Cormier: Drums
James Gelfand: Piano
Jerry De Villiers jr.: Guitar
Normand Lachapelle: Bass
Andre Leroux: Saxophone

Check out Magella Cormier's killing singles @7:14 here...

Featuring James Gelfand and Jerry Devilliers jr. soloing...

Tombo 7/4 · Postby **Tombo 7/4** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:04 am

Nice find!

I dig Magella. Love his "go for it "attitude". How is he going these days?
Jerry is really a top fusion guitarist.
My brother is friend with André Leroux and sometimes fills in for him. He says André is the most talented and natural player he ever heard. Never practices, shows up on gigs unprepared, casual attitude; then sight reads through any black page and always pulls out amazing stuff.
That band is very Electrik Band inspired.

A lot of people miss the "Air du Temps". I see fusion as something that kinda died in 1994 as a crowd drawer in clubs. At least for the newer generations of musicians. The crowd at the rare fusion concerts here is in the 40-50 age range, an age wher eyou don't hang out a lot; I also see it with my band. The young musicians/students all went back to acoustic/traditional bop. The rare jazz places here now hire only traditional accoustic jazz duos (no drums of course).

beat hit · Postby **beat hit** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:30 pm

Hey Tombo... Interesting to hear about Andre Leroux... I did not know he was not practicing...

I hear ya on the fusion versus traditional bop amongst the younger crowd... THAT is news to me and I don't doubt it... wonder why that is... and I'd be curious to read why you choose 1994 as the year fusion died?

I wish you and your band all the best for the upcoming gig in February.. My brother will most likely attend... Pls kindly give him your autograph if he comes and says hi...

Magella is doing really, really well... busy working on his own material... Looking forward to listen to that for sure...

Check the two tracks from "axelfischgroup" link below..

"L'enfant Lune" and "Le grimoires aux trois secret" are with Magella on drums... Very nice too...

http://www.myspace.com/axelfischgroup/m ... list-30462

beat hit · Postby **beat hit** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:14 pm

This one just got uploaded... Love Alain Caron`s version of Freedom Jazz Dance... Jerry DeVilliers kills as always... Strong chops by Magella... actually starts at 0:24

Funk shuffle ballad

Tombo 7/4 · Postby **Tombo 7/4** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:17 pm

Never heard of Axel Fisch. Very good!. Kinda of a Holdsworth/Metheny/Univers Zero crossover vibe.

Ah! Ah! : 3 Gars 1 Samedi soir (3 Guys on a Saturday Night). Had forgotten about that show...
Fusion was all over the place on our TV shows in the early 90s.

Alain Caron's bands always kill. I saw him a couple years ago with Paul Brochu, Frank Gambale and Otmaro Ruiz: That band was so HOT!
I like Caron's technique: flawless with an economy of movement. I heard he uses ultra sensitive pickups.
Self taught. He went to Berklee like for a half semester in his early twenties and was told he was losing his time there and to go out and play

beat hit · Postby **beat hit** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:23 pm

Oh my... Check this one out... Coltrane's Giant Steps... fast fwd to 0:45 to start.. wicked solo at 5:50

Tombo 7/4 · Postby **Tombo 7/4** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:54 pm

Pretty fast version...Great!

Magella is doing a clinic in Montreal next week:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Solar-Productions-3-1-Infolettre.html?soid=1104087625957&aid=WB2Q2cxUIIM

Look like discussions on canadian drummers stay between canadian drummers...

beat hit · Postby **beat hit** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:32 pm

Tombo 7/4 wrote:Look like discussions on canadian drummers stay between canadian drummers...

True... As much as I love HOD... I find that it's unpredictable to know what makes it "tic" or not "tic" sometimes... O well I post away anyways... Once a HODer always a HODer... lol...

PS: I sure hope your health condition improves my friend...