Fraser & Girard
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Fraser & Girard

Orangeville, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2013 | INDIE | AFM

Orangeville, Ontario, Canada | INDIE | AFM
Established on Jan, 2013
Duo Americana Roots

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"From www.fraserandgirard.com/reviews"

http://fraserandgirard.com/reviews - Fraser & Girard


"Folk musicians Fraser & Girard perform at reunion concert honouring the late Ken Palmer"

Somewhere in the middle of next week’s Smales Pace reunion concert, there’s a lovely love story.

Folk heroes gather on Friday at Aeolian Hall to honour the late Ken Palmer, London Music Hall of Famer with the Dixie Flyers and former artistic director of the Home County Music & Art Festival.

A Palmer-worthy lineup graces the event at Aeolian Hall, with a Dixie Flyers all-star band among the stars. It will be the season’s first chance to honour Palmer, with Home County adding its tribute in July at Victoria Park.

Still, this Palmer admirer is also touched at Friday’s revelation of a new Toronto-based folk duo, Fraser & Girard, an incomparable couple on and off the stage.

“It’s brought joy back to my life and grace in a very intimate way. . . . If that were to pass I would still want to work with Marianne,” Canadian folk star Allan Fraser said this week of his partnership with Delaware-raised Marianne Girard.

“I’m afraid it’s all dimensions,” said a laughing Girard of their relationship.

It took a while for Fraser & Girard to become a duo.

Her first gig was at Western’s The Hub in 1972.

Fraser had already been recording as part of the Canadian duo Fraser & DeBolt, who wowed crowds at Mariposa and critics at the New York Times before Fraser and the late Daisy DeBolt split up.

Fast forward from the Canadian folk glory days of the 1970s to much more recent times in Toronto. It had first been Girard’s base since the late 1970s and she returned there more than a decade ago. Fraser moved to Toronto after spending 35 years in Montreal.

The two had crossed paths many times over the decades in the Canadian folk world.

Then, on an evening in August last year, they met again over tea under a Japanese maple tree on College Street in Toronto.

A new duo bloomed under that tree.

Since their tea-for-two session, they’ve advanced from playing what were billed as Girard gigs with Fraser joining her on guitar to a new duo identity as Fraser & Girard.

-

By James Reaney, The London Free Press

Friday, May 23, 2014 6:52:00 EDT PM - The London Free Press


"Folking About London With Fraser & Girard"

“… a wonderfully intimate evening sharing their music... With a gutsy, country... voice, (Girard) delivers heartfelt, ... moving lyrics... lumps in throats all around... (Fraser's) poetic lyrics... run from quite obtuse symbolism to very simple conversation... He puts me in mind of Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, yes and even Mick Jagger when he gets down and dirty using shouts and falsetto...

So how do they mesh? Wonderfully! ... They're magic...

There is a lovely interplay between them on stage in their banter and eye contact and some tasty guitar work weaving, picking and strumming, back and forth. Vocally, they move from simply beautiful... to tingly shivers... their voices intertwine hitting some neat, jangly minor harmonies... I was reminded of Bert Jansch... (As with Ian & Sylvia) there is that same excitement in the combination of male and female voices of great but different quality. Yes! Again the crowd summed it up. “Wow!”

- Bob Cunningham, The Beat magazine (Jun 19, 2014) - The Beat Magazine


"Wonderful Show"

Allan (Fraser) & Marianne (Girard) put on a wonderful show here at London Music Club this past June. Their wit and passion shine through with every word and every chord played... we look forward to having them back here @ LMC. This is world-class singer-songwriter, folk-roots entertainment!”

- Pete Denomme, Club Owner, London, ON - Pete Denomme


"New Rock: Pure As Spring Water"

On Fraser and deBolt, April 18, 1971 :

New Rock: Pure as Spring Water
By JAMES LICHTENBERG

April 18, 1971,

, Section arts and leisure, Page D30, Column , words



"...IN the last few months two surprising, special records have come over the hill, titled with the names of the artists, Ry Cooder (Reprise) and Fraser DeBolt (Columbia). Cooder, from California, and Fraser DeBolt, from the Canadian Mid-West, have in common a musicianship that leaves most rock in the dust, an inspired craziness of personal expression, and a vision of people as feeling individuals, not a ticket-buying festival mass…As in gypsy theatre, their songs are performances and their lyrics are as dramatic and direct as finely spoken folk tales. …With this range of feeling, dense imagery and unexpected depth, their words may well find a place in the oral tradition of poetry...”

- James Lichtenberg, The New York Times (Dec 01, 2011) - The New York Times


"Fraser & Girard at Winterfolk XII Festival"

Toronto, Feb 2014 - “Marianne Girard and Allan Fraser performed as a duo last night at Winterfolk. Their set showed all the magic that can occur when two gifted singer-songwriters join forces. Both have great songs. Both have everything it takes to completely satisfy an audience on their own. Together they offer an abundance of riches. And while each of them complements the other’s songs in ways that reflect their own strong musical identity, both are focussed only on the song at hand. The resulting musical chemistry unfolded in spontaneous and unpredictable ways, creating one moment after another of unexpected grace and joy.

The good news is, they plan to make this a regular partnership. Yay! As they said from the stage, the only thing left to sort out is, will they perform as Girard & Fraser or Fraser & Girard? That’s a happy problem.”

- David Hines, Toronto musician - David Hines


"Fraser and Friends"

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 00:04

Concert Reviews
News

Story: Don Graham

Allan Fraser (one half of the iconic folk duo Fraser & Debolt of the 70’s) appeared last night at Donald Quan’s Musideum in downtown Toronto. The folk/rock icon was accompanied by a stellar lineup of A Team sidemen, Bob Cohen on guitar, David Woodhead on bass, Joel Axler on piano and special guest, fiddler, Ian Guenther. Guenther was a big part of the Fraser & DeBolt album on Columbia Records. The reunion resulted in an amazing evening of music and memories.

Fraser & DeBolt were the springboard Fraser needed to get his music heard by the masses. After showcasing as an opening act to Tom Paxton at New York’s famed Fillmore East, the duo was signed to the giant label Columbia Records. They recorded their debut album in Toronto with Craig Allen handling the production and fiddle whiz Ian Guenther accompanying them. The album was a critical success getting rave reviews in the New York Times, Maclean’s Magazine and the Los Angeles Free Press among others.

Allan and Daisy, capitalizing on the momentum, created by the first album were soon back in the studio recording the follow up ‘With Pleasure’ album. The pair stayed busy and in 1974 they were chosen to represent North America in The International Song Festival in Sopot, Poland. Fraser & DeBolt broke up not long after that and although they never quite made it as big as predicted, forty years later there is still a buzz about them and the songs. More importantly there is still a buzz about Allan Fraser.

Many artists have recorded his songs, including Tom Russell, the Duhks, Cal Hand with Leo Kotke, Penny Lang and Cassell Webb and John Oates of Hall and Oates fame.

Fraser has continued to perform and on Tuesday evening June 19th , he took to the stage at Musideum in downtown Toronto, backed by the aforemened group of musicians.

“We’re a group and not a band,” Fraser explained from the stage. “If we were a band we’d need a name, but we are a group,” he joked. Cohen, Woodhead, Axler and Guenther meshed tightly on the original songs that Fraser performed. The audience was there to soak up th Fraser vibe and were respectfully attentive and were thrilled when Fraser opened with his signature song ‘Dance Hall Girls’ The rest of the set was a great blend of Fraser’s eclectic collection of originals, including ‘We Shall Be Delivered.’

Allan Fraser is definitely not your cookie cutter artist and there is no mistaking his original sound and style. If he is performing anywhere near you make sure you get out experiencing this truly original artist and his work, and visiting his Reverbnation site to give a listen. You’ll be glad you did ! - Cashbox Canada Magazine


"Girard's Pirate Days a Revelation"

Greg Quill writes:

“Pirate Days is a revelation. Marianne Girard, those familiar with Canadian song craft know, is a proven a songwriter capable of great sensitivity, insight and truthfulness. But this time out, she's taking no prisoners. The vivid song stories on this album are alternatively bold and tender, the tunes clever and memorable, the production tasteful and the ensemble musicianship of the finest order. But on Pirate Days it's the vocal performances that stay with you. They're warm, inclusive, commanding. The confessional, occasionally ribald tone of the songs is served exquisitely by a voice that's unequivocally pure and joyfully unrestrained...”

- Greg Quill, The Toronto Star - The Toronto Star


"Pirate Days"

Pirate Days “This second CD by the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter is filled with compelling, insightful songs. Girard is at her best stepping outside herself to sing from the perspective of older people – like someone who worked on the levee in 1933 only to see it fail in 2005, or a hermit who lived an isolated life after avoiding serving in World War II. She also writes poignantly about the passing of her mother and with compassion about a woman who is self-destructing via drugs. A fine singer, Marianne’s songs are well served by her acoustic-oriented arrangements and the clean production of Douglas Romanow. ”

- Mike Regenstreif, Sing Out! Magazine (Sept 2010) - Sing Out Magazine


"Pirate Days"

Pirate Days – “Sure wouldn't want to be a singer/songwriter these days. The competition is staggeringly fierce. Can't imagine being as talented as Marianne Girard, who has it all: exceptionally interesting voice, great songwriting talent and who has recorded a disc as impressive as this, with backup from a hot guitar player like Rick Fines among others, and have to try to get the attention of frankly jaded critics like me, who hadn't heard of her before.

It's tough to stand out among the dozens of other well-made discs we get every quarter. Well, I've heard of her now and all I can say is, “Wow!” Not likely to forget about this one. She DOES stand out. Big time! I’m impressed as hell and will be watching this Toronto-based singer’s career with interest from now on. Great Stuff.”

- Barry Hammond, Penguin Eggs (Canada‘s Folk, Roots & World Magazine) - Penquin Eggs


""Ladies and Gentlemen, Please Welcome Marianne Girard""

A group of 50 or so people is gathered in the living room of a home south of Calgary. Friends, neighbours, new acquaintances, they nibble on the selection of food and talk amongst themselves. New arrivals are greeted at the door and welcomed into the excited atmosphere. Yes, indeed, there is an undertone of anticipation. Everyone knows they are about to be treated to a special night.

At the appointed time, all assembled are ushered into the basement. A few make a last minute circle of the dining table while others top off their glass or fill their coffee cup. Never the less, in mere minutes, everyone has gathered in the basement sitting, waiting eagerly.

A light comes up and the hostess appears and says
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Marianne Girard”.

Marianne takes the stage comfortably. It is an intimate setting and Marianne immediately begins to establish a rapport with her audience. “Can you believe this place?”, she says, only half asking for she is sure they must have heard that before. “It is so great.” Marianne eases into her first, appropriately chosen song. When she is finished, the audience response tells her that she has a knowing and appreciative crowd who are already warming to her performance. Marianne introduces each song with a fitting story. Sometimes short, sometimes personal as when she tells us the inspiration for Amanda On The Train. Those who have listened to Marianne's multi-tracked studio recordings briefly wonder if she can represent the songs as well here in this setting but Marianne's mastery of the guitar and her incredible voice very quickly put any concern to rest. The songs and the stories flow. Pirate Days makes us believe in Marianne's indomitable spirit, The Levee reveals to us her thoughts on the tragedy of hurricane Katrina. If I Had Wings, Constantinople, The Cuckoo, the variety is delicious and each offering receives our profound appreciation. It is obvious that the audience is hooked. She shyly announces she'll be flying to Ottawa overnight for her nomination at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. The audience is thrilled and genuinely excited for this woman who has already won their votes and their hearts.

There's an intermission, more food and then more fine music. My Mother's Blanket touches many, each in different ways while Train Of Love offers hope to those who need it. By now, we are all one with the music, the stories and the stories within the music. For a brief moment, before the applause, you could hear a pin drop when Marianne finishes Angel In The Snow as we absorb the meaning of that to which we have just listened. All too soon the concert is over. The audience retreats to the upstairs, some to seek more food or a cup of coffee and some to find their way to the door. Marianne is gracious. She joins the crowd, answers questions and bids a fond farewell to people as they leave. One thing is certain. Everyone has just witnessed a very special concert, in a little theatre in a basement. No one will soon forget.”

- Bill Towsley, Home Routes concert presenter, Calgary, AB. - Bill Towsley, Home Routes House Concert Presenter


Discography

Debut Fraser & Girard due for release January 2015.


Studio session samples at www.fraserandgirard.com






Allan Fraser,  Supermoon,  Independant,  2013

Producer/Engineer,: Quentin Meek

https://www.google.ca/search?q=cdbaby+LLn+fraser+supermoon&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en...







Marianne Girard, Pirate Days,  Independant,   2009

Producer, Doug Romanov

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marianne2






Marianne Girard,  In This Town,  Independant,  2002

Producer, John Switzer

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marianne






Marianne Girard,  When It Hurts,  Boot Records,  1982

Producer,  Alex King

(Vinyl) A1   Crazy Out Tonight      3:27A2   Don't Have To Make Time      2:59A3   Poor Girls Eyes      4:39A4   Think I Better Go Now      4:21A5   To Love      4:21B1   When It Hurts      3:13B2   Out In The Cold      4:07See more tracksB3   Snowy      4:42B4   Frankie      3:44B5   Ride      3:15






Marianne Girard,  Afghanistan - On Guard For Thee? (compilation),  2006

Peace Tower  (Marianne Girard)

Producers: Lewis Melville, Dave Clark






Fraser & deBolt   With Pleasure  LP    Columbia Records 1973  C-32130

1. Broad Daylight Woman (3:12)
2. Columbus Hits the Shoreline Rag (3:40)
3. I Want to Dance with You (3:01)
4. Cleo's Couch (2:57)
5. Big Time Charlie (4:25)
6. Sister Nell & Dirty Reuben (1:58)
7. Two Rainbows (4:09)
8. This Storm Shall Surely Pass (5:45)
9. Why-Kiki (3:39)
10. Waiting for the Harvest in Garf's Front
      Yard (Pure Spring Water #2) (4:23)





Fraser & deBolt,    Different Strokes (compilation),    Columbia Records,   1971




Fraser & deBolt,  Fraser & deBolt With Ian Guenther,   Columbia Records,  C-30381, 1970


Fraser & DeBolt
With Ian Guenther

Released: 1971 Label: Columbia C 30381

1. All This Paradise
2. Gypsy Solitaire
3. Them Dance Hall Girls
4. David's Tune
5. Waltze of the Tennis Players
6. Armstrong Tourest Rest Home
7. Fraser and Debolt Theme
8. Old Man on the Corner
9. Warmth
10. Stoney Day
11. Pure Spring Water
12. Don't Let Me Down























Photos

Bio

Fraser & Girard Debut Album to be released January 2015.


"Incomparable, both on and off stage"
 London Free Press, June 2013

Veteran musicians Allan Fraser and Marianne Girard have crossed paths for over thirty years. A year ago, these two  highly regarded Canadian singer/songwriters joined heads, hearts and a lifetime of music.

"This new union, Fraser & Girard, shows all the magic that can occur when two gifted singer/songwriters merge. Both have great songs. Both have everything it takes to completely satisfy an audience on their own. Together, they offer an abundance of riches. The resulting musical chemistry unfolds in spontaneous and unpredictable ways, creating one moment after another of unexpected grace and joy." David Hines, Toronto
Allan Fraser is best known as half of the folk duo, Fraser & DeBolt, that released two critically acclaimed and influential albums internationally on Columbia Records.  Fraser’s songs have been recorded by Tom Russell, Cal Hand with Leo Kottke and the Duhks. Songwriters Hall of Fame member, John Oates, (Hall and Oates), recorded Fraser’s signature song, Dance Hall Girls, on his album, “Mississippi Mile,” an homage to the songwriters who most influenced his own compositions and, the following year, on “The Bluesville Sessions.”

Garrison Keillor, of the popular NPR show, “A Prairie Home Companion,” performed Fraser's “Waltz of the Tennis Players”. Allan’s compositions have been used on the show several times by various other artists.

The New York Times described Allan’s songs as gypsy theatre: “... with this range of feeling, dense imagery and unexpected depth, their words may well find a place in the oral tradition of poetry …”
Cashbox Canada magazine's Don Graham: "... an amazing evening of music ...the audience was there to soak up the Fraser vibe and were thrilled ... there is no mistaking his original sound and style ... make sure you get out and experience this truly original artist and his work."

Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee Marianne Girard will "melt your heart and move your feet".  She has toured her own finely-crafted and powerful music throughout North America and Europe. Marianne’s songs paint vibrant landscapes, firing up the senses with a "deep understanding of the human condition, a spectacular voice, and irresistible rootsy grooves".

In 1992, she wrote and performed the theme song for the United Nations Peace Conference. Marianne was raising a family on her own by that time, and left the road when her young daughter pleaded, "Mom, I just want a normal life!". While working as a studio session singer, her entire life as an artist led her to re-train as an Expressive Arts Therapist, utilizing all of the arts as expression in rural clinics and reserves, schools, rehab centres and hospitals, allowing her to stay close to home to raise her daughters.

In 2002, the late, great Canadian songwriter, Norm Hacking, coaxed her back to the stage.
Shortly thereafter, Marianne's CD, "In This Town" produced by John Switzer, was released. A highlight of this re-emergence was her live performance in 2006 on the “Midnight Special” at WFMT radio in Chicago, which broadcast worldwide on XM/Sirius radio.

Marianne has three albums, 'When It Hurts', 'In This Town', and 'Pirate Days'. This latest work was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Contemporary Singer.  She has appeared on many compilation projects, as a featured performer and as a session singer and player.

The Toronto Star's Greg Quill quoted Marianne's music as "…a revelation... alternatively bold and tender...served exquisitely by a voice that's unequivocally pure and joyfully unrestrained... and goes on to describe her songs as 'panoramic ruminations'.

Penquin Eggs, Canada's premier folk magazine, exclaims, "Wow!" Not likely to forget about this one. She DOES stand out. Big time!"

"I think that one measure of a good album is if you go around for days after listening to it with a couple of the songs constantly playing in your head," says Eli Marcus, Peace Radio, Israel.

RTL Radio Belgium dubbed her a “Canadian Nightingale.” “All Music Guide” points to her "consistently stellar performance" and “Toronto Life” magazine calls her a “tour de force.”

With great pleasure, we present this exciting, new collaboration, Fraser & Girard.   

Band Members