Biography
Originally from a classical music background, Charlotte has gradually found her own sound mixing blues-jazz elements with soft, tender melodies. In some works for trio (including bass and drums), her rhythms become relentless, almost hypnotic. In others the mood is introspective, quiet, tender.
Charlotte has also had the rare opportunity of meeting a musical “soul-mate” in Yves Sergerie, a harmonica player from Chicoutimi. Charlotte met Yves two years ago, and since then has written music for piano and harmonica. The intertwining of these two very different sounds creates a very special sound, and a somewhat eerie, uncanny effect.
Charlotte Hébert
Originally from Saint-Boniface, Manitoba where she completed a B.A. and a Bachelor of Music, Charlotte Hébert has been composing for the last three years. Charlotte also has a Masters degree in Psychology, and has a private practice. She is also a human relations trainer and consultant for several private and public organizations.
Charlotte’s creative impetus started in 1999 when her longtime writer-friend Paul Savoie suggested producing a show of music, poetry and original songs. This resulted in a show presented at the Foyer of the “Centre culturel franco-manitobain” in Saint-Boniface with the collaboration of singer-songwriter Marie-Claude McDonald.
Since then, Charlotte Hébert has continued composing. She gave two shows including original music and songs in Montreal in 2000, again with Paul Savoie and this time with singer Valérie Lemaire and harmonicist Yves Sergerie from Chicoutimi, Québec. The musical synergy between Charlotte and Yves incited Charlotte to write more and more pieces for piano and harmonica. These duets offer an unexpected musical blend of the raw, vital, eerie sound of the harmonica with the full, melodic quality of the piano. The result is spellbinding.
Charlotte also composes intimate, miniature piano pieces with haunting melodies as well as trios with relentless rhythms. One of her songs, « Éphémère », with lyrics by Paul Savoie, is included in the « Album du Siècle » put out by Saint-Boniface College in 2001. This album has already won a national prize.
Charlotte’s first compact disc, “temps de nuit” has been available since March 2002.
On April 14 th, 2002, Charlotte presented a show at the Fourth Stage of the National Arts Center in Ottawa. This show included many of her own compositions as well as songs by Tom Waits interpreted by Gerry Paquin from Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, and original songs rendered by Lorraine Poitras from Kingston, Ontario. Charlotte was accompanied by Tom McMahon on bass, Paul-André Lamarche on drums and Yves Sergerie on harmonica. The show was greeted very enthusiastically by the full-house audience.
Shows in Chicoutimi in June 2002 and in Saint-Boniface (October 2002) were also greeted by full-house audiences.
The year 2003 proved to be quite productive with shows again at the NAC in Ottawa, with other productions in Winnipeg and in Chicoutimi.
Charlotte's second album strange beauty was launched at the NAC Fourth Stage on October 7th, 2005 and in Winnipeg on November 19th, 2005 at the Antoine Gaborieau hall at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain.
Yves Sergerie
As a youngster, Yves Sergerie spent many hours listening to the Big Band sounds his aunts and uncles played at various bars and clubs. When he actually began to play, it was behind a drum kit where he learned to play the core upon which all music rests, rhythm. With time, he found he needed a voice, a melodic presence to express the depths of his soul. The harmonica became his musical companion and the Blues became his language. He began with rural blues sounds, but the Chicago Blues sounds attracted him most. In 1988 he co-founded the band Taxi Blues which ran for eight years with stops at various Jazz festivals in Chicoutimi and Rimouski, at the summer festival in Québec and also at the Song Festival in Tadoussac. Many road trips to various bars and clubs across Québec were included.
Yves’s experience and immense talent gained recognition. He participated for 4 years in show productions with the Bourbon Gautier country band. They produced countless shows across Canada, and opened for such well-known artists as Richard Desjardins at the Spectrum in Montreal, Kenny Rodgers at the Capitole in Québec and Billy Ray Cyrus at the Forum in Montreal. Two discs were produced with Bourbon Gautier and several television appearances followed. In 1994, Yves Sergerie created his own Yves Slim Blues Band which ran for four years.
When Yves Sergerie met Charlotte Hébert, it was a musical joining of souls. Thanks to Charlotte’s music, Yves can now develop the haunting sounds of the chromatic harmonica as well as becoming more active in the creation of original compositions for piano and harmonica. A first album « temps de nuit » came out in 2002 and was produced in several shows across Canada, including the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Charlotte's second album strange beauty was launched at the NAC Fourth Stage on October 7th, 2005 and in Winnipeg on November 19th, 2005 at the Antoine Gaborieau hall at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain.
