Guy Donis: Banjo Adventurer

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Guy Donis grew up in Belgium, where he had fallen in love with the banjo and proceeded to dedicate his life to it. In this episode, he describes how he taught himself 5 string banjo, learned about Bluegrass, and expanded his musical horizons by collaborating with jazz and classical musicians. He immigrated to Canada many years ago, and is well-known in the Montreal music scene. He has toured Canada extensively with Notre Dame de Grass and other bands, and in this episode he talks about his newest project, the Montreal Bluegrass League, and a track from their latest album is included in this podcast. Some tracks from his two trio albums are also included earlier in this episode, in which you can hear Guy’s progressive jazz-influenced original music.

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Like all my episodes, the YouTube video, Transcript, and show notes are linked on my website: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/guy-donis

Guy Donis website: https://www.guydonisbanjo.com/

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Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:03) Guy’s discovery of the banjo in Belgium

(04:35) Tchestou Guy Donis Trio from Paroles d’arbre

(04:40) banjo demo, evolution of bluegrass style

(21:12) Béla Fleck

(25:05) Paroles d’arbre album

(29:16) title track from Paroles d’arbre Guy Donis Trio

(33:51) Roots, Risks and Rêveries album Guy Donis Trio

(35:33) Grenouillages Guy Donis Trio

(36:36) Guy’s youth in Belgium, learning banjo

(45:47) could you buy me a coffee to support this series?

(46:26) the challenge of continuing to improve

(47:29) Sam Bush

(49:39) how Guy learned banjo and found his style

(54:04) decision to leave Belgium

(59:49) Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck, networking challenges, focus in playing

(01:06:36) the Montreal Bluegrass League

(01:14:59) career choices

(01:19:46) teaching banjo

(01:23:59) Guy’s banjo Nechville Phantom

(01:29:49) the Montreal Bluegrass League album, intro to One Way Track

(01:31:51) One Way Track with the Montreal Bluegrass League

(01:34:05) love for winter in Quebec as an immigrant from Belgium

(01:36:04) distractions of the internet

(01:38:05) learning music therapeutic

photo of Guy Donis: David Roseman