Virtuoso musicians J.P. Cormier and Jake Lauzon team up for what promises to be a string and mind-bending performance at The Carleton on Thursday, May 7th. Show time for this extraordinary musical combo is 7:30 PM and tickets are $40 + HST.
36 years later after stepping on stage as professional union musician for the first time at the tender age of 13, J.P. Cormier is still going, and frighteningly, still getting better. 16 albums followed the success of his first, Another Morning, winning maor than a dozen ECMAs, a couple of Juno nominations, a Canadian Folk Music Award and 5 Music Nova Scotia Awards. Each album was a snapshot of each thing that he can do. There are fiddle albums, Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, tribute records, songwriting collections, a purely astounding spectrum of talent and musical vision.
His catalogue of recordings and the 150 or so records he’s produced on other artists, resemble the tapestry he weaves in live performance. Where he used to carry 3 and 4 piece bands, he tours alone now. Just him and the instruments
Accolades aside, and there are many from people like Chet Atkins, Marty Stuart, Waylon Jennings, Gordon Lightfoot; JP sees himself as just a performer. He’s shy, but has a razor sharp wit and lightning sense of humour. He can be reserved or edgy to the point no return. He speaks for soldiers, first responders, other artists, the forgotten and lost. He speaks sometimes only for himself and refuses rebuttal.
Of all the things he is, foremost he is an entertainer. One of the best. After you’ve seen what he does, you will too.
Jake Lauzon began playing the guitar at the age of 7 years old. Always drawn to folk, roots and bluegrass music, Jake quickly gained a reputation as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Through his teenage years, Jake’s passion for acoustic guitar playing flourished. Largely self-taught, he was known to spend hours with his guitar in hand, listening to his favourite players and navigating the fretboard. Now in his twenties, Jake maintains a busy schedule freelancing, recording and teaching.
He has had the immense honour of showcasing both Canadian-made Boucher guitars and American-made Gallagher guitars alongside master instrumentalist, J.P. Cormier. His music has taken him all across the North American stage, including performances at the Celtic Colours International Festival, and Nashville’s renowned Station Inn. In 2021/2022, Jake toured the American Bluegrass scene as a core member of the Virginia-based bluegrass band Nothin’ Fancy,’ playing lead guitar and singing tenor vocals. In 2023, he was honoured to join Canadian Folk legends J.P. Cormier and Dave Gunning on their cross-Canada ‘Leather and Dust’ tour. Jake’s solo guitar playing can be heard on his YouTube channel FretwearTV. At the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards, Jake was honoured to receive the title of ‘Guitarist of the Year’ in both 2018 and 2019.
Look out for him in roots music scene all over North America!