a re-print from “The Record”
Did you know that Sutton has one of the highest concentrations of artists per capita compared to most places in the country? According to Michael Hynes who was recently interviewed by CIDI host Jacques Lecours for the Around Town / Tour de Ville radio show: “The percentage of the population in Sutton that are artists, based on information provided each year by Canadian tax returns, is well over 25%”. (listen to the show)
I can believe it. For many years I have noticed, as a life-long Townships resident, that Sutton is different. There is more of an interest in all things spiritual, organic and artistic, and the town has taken steps to physically reflect its special character. It has buried telephone wires in its downtown core and supported a successful non-profit organization called Le Coeur du village which is responsible for the success of the popular venue La Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier.
Every week shows are presented on its small but worthy stage in the centre of Sutton. With an audience capacity of around 125 the room resonates with the arts, be it music, drama or film. Among some of the prominent artists featured on a regular basis at the location is the multitalented Hynes, a pianist, composer, movie and music producer.
“I started playing professionally in a tavern in St-Bruno when I was thirteen,” recounted Hynes, “and my mother still lives there.”
Born in Luxemburg, he was brought up in Quebec and is bilingual, which caused the around Town show to tip back and forth like a ship at sea between English and French. “When I was around 15 or 16,” explained Hynes, “I used to play the organ in church every Sunday in exchange for being able to play on an old Bechstein piano in the church basement.”
The Around Town radio show that Hynes guested on this past week was produced in CIDI’s new Radio Village Hall, on its brand-new stage donated by the D2 Inc. construction company and Malouin’s Home Hardware store, both out of Waterloo. Mainly a jazz pianist Hynes recognizes the superb quality of Radio Communautaire Missisquoi’s 1912 Steinway model “O” salon grand piano. So much so, that after treating CIDI’s radio-listening audience to a couple of melodies he exclaimed: “Holy cats this is a beautiful instrument!”
Hynes is also a composer and has to his credit over 140 compositions, one of which is to be performed by the Vancouver Symphony orchestra. He is still very active as a performer and manages between 75 to 100 gigs a year. One of his favourite places to play is the Cafe Inn in Knowlton on Thursday nights because “the ambience is great, there’s a good energy in the room and the audience enjoys the music.”
He acquired a music education while in Montreal and Toronto and during his early years as an aspiring musician practiced 8 hours a day, six days a week for two years honing his skills. “While in Toronto I gained a lot of experience,” Hynes pointed out to Lecours, “and after travelling extensively and living in the Townships-Sutton area for the past eight years I have come to believe that we live in one of the best areas in the world.”
From his perspective it’s because within the Sutton and Ville de Lac Brome communities “there’s a demographic with disposable income and an interest in jazz.” I can see Woody Woodworth and Keith Mizener – hosts of the Let’s Talk Jazz show – agreeing with him on this one. And, wasn’t Woody spotted recently at the Cafe Inn on a Thursday night for dinner and jazz, enjoying the sounds of Hynes.
I must point out that Lecours is also a jazz lover and will be taking part in the Multimedia Festival at La Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier from August 8th until the 28th. August 14th at 8 pm Under the musical direction of Hynes, Lecours, along with Lise Cameron and accompanist Kevin Sullivan will be performing some of the most memorable songs from the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong catalogues.
The Multimedia Festival is Hynes’ brainchild and is now in its second year. “During the festival,” explained Hynes, “Thursdays will be devoted to films, Fridays to musical improvisation and Saturdays to tribute concerts of great artists.”
He believes that the region is being taken to new heights artistically due to projects such as RCM’s Radio Village Hall, which will be able to seat around 80 people and feature top performers. He has already shown an interest in performing a weekly show for radio in front of a live audience once the hall is complete. “This is going to be the place. There is a great feel to the room and it’s the only venue in the area with a Steinway grand piano. It’s a great axe.”
For more information on the Multimedia Festival taking place in Sutton at La Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier and to reserve tickets, go to www.salleagpelletier.com or call 450-538-0486.
Being who we are is CIDI, lots of great shows, lots of wonderful hosts and terrific volunteers. Give us a listen, send us your comments and suggestions, we always want to hear from you all and play the stuff you want to hear. To become a volunteer or member you can reach us at 450-242-9873 or go to our website at www.rcmmedia.org. You can also live stream us online if you can’t pick us up in your area.
The photos are courtesy – CIDI
Maurice Singfield is an RCM volunteer. Tel: 450-242-9873 / 1-888-539-2098.
Tags: La Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier, Le Coeur du village, Michael Hynes, Radio Village Hall, Sutton
