The Guest List
Thursday January 11th, 2018 with Joe Reilly
Interviews with Jean-Michel Blais and the Kents and a few tunes from Blackalicious

We start the show today talking to Jean-Michel Blais. The Montreal-based pianist is creating beautiful music on his own and in conjunction with other artists like Montreal electronic artist CFCF. In this engaging interview, Jean-Michel is literally in a cab on his way to the airport (for a gig in New York) and he manages to get out of the cab and thanks his driver while talking about the importance of space in his music. Throughout the interview we talk about how he creates his beautiful music and how he engages with others through collaboration. He will be in Ottawa for a solo performance on Saturday, January 20 at the First Baptist Church. Should be a fantastic place to take in his music. https://www.spectrasonic.com/event/1549795-jean-michel-blais-ottawa/ https://arts-crafts.ca/biography/jean-michel-blais.html https://jeanmichelblais.com/ Next up we talk to Warren Franks of the Kents. The band hails from Lindsay, Ontario and recently released a second e.p. entitled "Within Waves." Warren talks about his evolution into the role of lead singer with the band and some of the themes that emerge on the new e.p. He also talks about getting feelings and experiences out in a song and how cathartic that http://www.thekentsband.com/ http://www.houseoftarg.com/ https://thekents.bandcamp.com/ We wrap up the show playing a couple of pieces from Blackalicious. The amazing hip-hop rap duo will be performing at the 27 Club on Saturday night, January 13. Get out and see some live music this week.