The eleventh album from award-winning super group Le Vent du Nord (The Wind of the North), 20 Printemps (20 Springtimes) celebrates the band’s 20th anniversary. The band has performed at 2,100 shows on four continents. Le Vent du Nord’s musical vision continues to emphasize highly-arranged lively, joyful instrumental tunes, as well as sweet, catchy and pleasant material that features their vocal prowess together. 20 Printemps is an album that creates a spring breeze to stir the willow leaves, as butterflies float and balance on the updrafts. Combining traditional with original material, the leading force in Quebec’s progressive francophone folk movement has a vast repertoire. 

They open the set in jig-time (6/8) with “Tour du Monde” (Around the World) that invokes Celtic sensibilities, then segues into some reels. We know right away that we’re in for a treat of cohesive, energetic, evocative music. Right away, at track 2, they offer “Dans l'eau-de-vie-de l'arbre” (In the Brandy of the Tree) with soulful vocals and snappy instrumental interludes. Spanning seven minutes, “Ma Louise” is a flowing song with a catchy melody and sing-along chorus, assuming you know French. While each track on 20 Printemps has a personality of its own, I perked up

Songs like “Amériquois” (American), “Vos Amitiés la Belle” (Your Friendship’s Beautiful), “Marianne” and  “L'auberge” (The Inn) all convey poignant messages, tell beautiful stories or pay tribute to fallen friends. A synopsis of each is provided in the 16-page CD booklet’s liner notes. Perhaps their website will include some English translation of the many lyrics. “Turlute du Mai” (Jiggle of May) is sung with syllabic sounds to celebrate the planting in May and the end of winter. Staying with that theme, an instrumental medley of dance tunes, “La Centaurée” celebrates spring and Quebec’s natural beauty. A story of sailors tossed and turned by the north wind, “Le Navire de Bayonne” (The Ship from Bayonne) has a funky groove anchored by a reggae-like rhythm while the fiddles dance. In the drinking adventure “Si Vous Voulez” (If You Want) will get you singing in response, “Ah, Ah Ah! Don't give me, if you want me to sing. Ah Ah Ah! Don’t give me, never water between meals.” Closing with a soothing and relaxing instrumental “Petit Rêve IV” (Little Dream IV), Le Vent du Nord’s sublime music leaves us in a contemplative mood of reflection and optimism.

So just who are these five versatile musicians that come across more as a howling gael than a zephyr? Nicolas Boulerice (hurdy gurdy) has a passion for traditional music that has led him to Ireland and France, and stints with Ad Vielle que Pourra, MontcorbieR and others.  Simon Beaudry (guitar, bouzouki, vocals) inherited a solid family musical background before earning his music degree at Joliette College.  Trained as a violinist, Olivier Demers (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, feet) started out in chamber music, moved on to jazz, but now describes himself as a violoneux (fiddler) who has devoted the past decade to traditional music. Réjean Brunet (bass, diatonic accordion, piano) who started playing Québecois traditional music as a very young boy, toured and recorded for eight years with La Volée d’Castors. Fiddler André Brunet’s unwavering energy and refined style earned him a spot performing with La Bottine Souriante for ten years. He’s the relative newcomer to Le Vent du Nord, having joined them in 2018, and he provides some of the masterful foot work percussion also heard on this album.

As unofficial cultural ambassadors of French-speaking Canada, this skillful band keeps their music both dignified and commanding. Their alluring je ne sais quoi is not really that hard to describe. It revolves around masterful musicians providing snappy instrumentals, evocative vocals, rousing responses in sweet, tasteful, dynamic musical arrangements full of soul and spirit. I may just have to make the three-hour drive over to Sister, Oregon in September to catch them live at the Sisters Folk Festival. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)