Gillian Boucher
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Gillian Boucher

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | SELF

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | SELF
Band Folk Celtic

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"Musical upbringing helped make Gillian Boucher’s first CD a hit"

By Dan MacDonald (05/11/08)

When you grow up in rural Inverness County you tend to be surrounded by music. You really can’t avoid it, particularly when there is music in your family. Such is the case with Gillian Boucher who grew up in Broad Cove in the shadow of the annual Broad Cove Scottish Concert.
As the years progressed Gillian took those musical roots and surroundings, added in copious amounts of her own talents and melded everything carefully together with musical influences from Scotland, Ireland and beyond, creating a sound and a style that is truly her own. From this comes “Elemental,” a new CD produced by Glenn Meisner and recorded at CBC Radio Studio H in Halifax.
As I mentioned, Gillian has a distinctive style and this comes through in this CD, greatly aided by the throaty sounds of her violin. She wields that sound well, weaving through different music with ease, from straight traditional Cape Breton style numbers, to solid groupings of Irish material, to tunes and tunings that sound almost like Celtic jazz.
While Gillian handled all the violin work, she is joined by an interesting selection of veteran players such as percussionist Geoff Arsenault, Jamie Gatti on bass and Kim Dunn on keyboards. The guitar chores are split between two people that she is quite close to: Andrew White (her husband) and Seph Peters (who grew up just down the road). Collectively, they create a wonderful and very pleasing sound.
“Elemental” is peppered with wonderful cuts, many influenced by the work and writing of Brendan Power. Several bear the marking of John McCusker’s style while you can hear her husband’s music in others (notably Greenstone Waters, one of the first tunes they learned as a duo).
There isn’t a bad cut on the CD but I am particularly smitten by several cuts. Reel Hot includes a trio of tunes learned in Ireland and Scotland, enhanced by some wonderful banjo work from Seph Peters. The closing cut on the CD, simply and appropriately called Slow Air, is a stark and soulful solo violin piece that highlights the wonderful sound of Gillian’s instrument. Unadorned by any backup, the playing and the player leave you pensive and silenced by the unadulterated emotion of the tune.
“Elemental” is certainly something to look for, a truly wonderful recording well beyond what you might expect for a first CD. It is also something that Gillian should be quite proud of, a recording that will make her mark on the music business on the East Coast and beyond. - The Cape Breton Post


Discography

Elemental (CBC 2008)

Photos

Bio

"In the hands of Gillian Boucher, the violin becomes a vehicle of transportation for the mind... Her lyrical approach and sensitivity transcends genres and cultures, transporting listeners to far off exotic places accessible only in imagination."
- Glenn Meisner, CBC Radio

Recipient of the Traditional/Roots Recording of the Year Award at the 2009 Nova Scotia Music Week Conference and Awards and nominee for a 2010 East Coast Music Award in the same category, Gillian Boucher has been traveling the world with her violin in hand since the age of 15. After living abroad for a number of years, Gillian now resides in her home province of Nova Scotia where she recorded her debut album ‘Elemental’ with producer Glenn Meisner at CBC’s Studio H in Halifax. With a broad range of musical influences, this progressive yet easy-listening album seamlessly blends Celtic and contemporary sounds with hints of Eastern European styles and a touch of jazz.

Originally from Inverness County, Gillian was born into a family steeped in Cape Breton traditional music and language. Her grandfather and one of the founders of the esteemed Broad Cove Scottish concert, Lauchie MacLellan, was a renowned Gaelic singer and storyteller. Gillian first held the violin at the age of five while attending the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts in St. Anne’s, Cape Breton and has since toured Scotland, Ireland, Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia. She has shared the stage with Battlefield Band, Capercaillie, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Tom Paxton, Mary Jane Lamond and many more.

While living in Edinburgh, Gillian founded the all-girl band Maysha and was a featured performer on Scotland's Television Programme 'Tacsi'. Gillan's music can also be found on Foot Stompin' Records album 'Heat the Hoose Volume 2' and on Irish Fiddle virtuoso Manus McGuire's albums 'Saphire and Blue' and ‘Fiddlewings.’  In 2007 Gillian joined the team of New Scotland Productions in Nova Scotia and was a member of Celtic Angels at Christmas, aired by BRAVO! and Vision TV.

Some notable performances include the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, a performance of ‘Song of the Year’ at the New Zealand APRA Awards, and a fundraising event with guests including the British Ambassador in Manila, Philippines. In October 2009, Gillian teamed up with harmonica genius Brendan Power (Sting, Van Morrison) and guitar virtuoso Andrew White, taking audiences by storm at Celtic Colours International Festival and brought audiences to their feet in enthusiastic applause showcasing with her full band during Nova Scotia Music Week 2009 in Yarmouth.

This past July, Gillian was a guest performer for the Canadian Ambassador of Turkey's Canada Day Celebrations in Ankara, Turkey. Her performance and collaboration with the Black Sea Dance group received such critical international media attention in the form of Newspaper, Radio and Television interviews, that she is planning to revisit the country later in the year for a number of festivals and concerts, collaborating again with local Turkish musicians.

In January, 2011, Gillian's five piece band will be featured at Showcase Scotland, an even hosted by the largest mid-winter festival in the world, Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. In short, this will be a busy and exciting year for Boucher, whose musical expression, diversity and ability knows no bounds.