The Cats in the Kitchen
The Cats in the Kitchen are Marie Hélène Dion, Richard Morgan, Gord Fisch, and Julien Deprés.
They are a traditional celtic line up of guitar, fiddle, flute and bodhran. The diverse experiences of the members, though, give the group a unique feel to the mix.
Marie-Hélène's education in jazz brings a powerful violin sound laced with jazz influenced harmonies. Richard's background in dance brings a crisp, dynamic feel to the flutes, and when mixed with the powerful violin gives an almost orchestral feel when backing Gord's more traditional vocals. Julien's backing vocals perfectly complements Gord's, while his talent for percussion adds a drive that's guaranteed to get your feet tapping.
As an acoustic group the Cats in the Kitchen are suited to small concert rooms and large festival stages. The celtic nature of the material is idealy suited to celtic themed events such as Hogmanay(new years), Burns night, and WSt. Patrick's Day
Marie-Hélène Dion
- Violon
- Baryton
Le violon fait partie de la vie de Marie-Hélène depuis plus de vingt ans. Dès son enfance, elle participe à des tournées qui la conduisent à sillonner le Québec et le Nouveau-Brunswick. Pas étonnant qu’elle obtienne un Diplôme d’études collégiales et un Baccalauréat en violon jazz.
Au fil de son parcours, la jeune violoniste découvre qu’il n’y a pas que la musique jazz ! Elle se développe un grand intérêt pour les musiques traditionnelles du monde. Elle met cette passion en pratique en fondant un groupe de musique d’Europe de l’Est. Accompagnée d’un complice accordéoniste, elle donne ainsi naissance au groupe Jtadi qu’elle gère depuis maintenant six ans.
Marie-Hélène n’en est pas à ses premières expériences sur scène. Elle participe, avec le groupe Jtadi, à plusieurs festivals dont Mémoire et Racines à Joliette, Le Festi Jazz international de Rimouski et le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.
La musicienne a commencé à apprendre plus sérieusement la musique traditionnelle irlandaise et de la Nouvelle-Écosse il n’y a qu’un an et demi. Il suffit toutefois de l’entendre jouer pour s’apercevoir que Marie-Hélène est passionnée par cette musique depuis son enfance. Disposant à la fois d’une technique rigoureuse et d’un laisser-aller contrôlé, Marie-Hélène inspire, peu importe le type de musique qu’elle joue.
influences:
- Natalie MacMaster
- Ashley MacIsaac
- Jerry Holland
Richard Morgan
- Whistles
- Mandolin
- Flutes
Richard hails from England, where he grew up surrounded by traditional English dance and music. He started to play the recorder and tin whistle at an early age, and the flute and mandolin later. As a teenager he was involved with several dance groups, as dancer and musician, including the National Youth Folklore Troupe of England (Nyfte).
Before moving to Canada in 2001 he worked as a sound engineer in Cambridge, with a wide range of musicians and musical styles. During this period he also played with the scottish folk-rock band Hedgepig.
Richard is a regular at the sessions in Montreal and is currently involved with several groups as musician or sound engineer.
influences:
- Davy Spillane
- Flook
- Steeleye Span
Julien Després
- Podorythme
- Bodhran
- Cajon
- Vocals
- Whistles
Julien became interested in traditional music whilst working at the Fort de l'Île Sainte-Hélène. He first played with ex-cat Marc-Antoine Berube in Lilie's Clover Band, and since 2004 has played with Corsaire as percussionist and vocalist .
In 2009, Corsaire supported La volée de castors at week-end du monde at Parc Jean Drapeau. In 2010, Corsaire provided the music for Reel & Macadam at the Rencontres internationales folkloriques de Fribourg in Switzerland
As well as playing with the Cats in the Kitchen and Corsaire, Julien works as an entertainer at the medieval themed Auberge du Dragon Rouge and Cabaret du Roy.
influences:
- Lúnasa
- Les Charbonniers de l’enfer
- La Bottine Souriante
Gordon Fisch
- Guitar
- Vocals
Known for his lovely tenor voice and flat-picking fiddle tunes on the guitar, Gordon loves playing celtic music.
Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Gord played bass in a High School band, toured with "The Little Red Hen Story Theatre", was Artistic Director of the "Regina Folk Festival" and Co-ordinator of the "Emma Lake Fiddle Camp". He released one album with the wild celtic band "Iron Brew".
Besides hanging with the Cats, Gord teaches guitar at the Siamsa School of Irish Music.