Nathan Mahl
| Nathan Mahl | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Progressive rock, jazz fusion |
| Years active | 1981–Present |
| Labels | Unicorn Digital, Mahl Productions, NEARfest Records, Musea Records |
| Website | Nathan Mahl Official Website |
| Members | Don Prince Tristan Vaillancourt David Campbell |
| Past members |
Guy LeBlanc Marc Spénard Dan Lacasse Garth Boyd Alain Paluck Claude Prince Alain Bergeron Luc Poulin Scott Daughtrey José Bergeron Guy Dagenais J.P. Ranger Aaron Clark |
Formed in 1981, Nathan Mahl are a Canadian Progressive rock band with Jazz fusion elements. Throughout a constantly evolving lineup of rock and fusion musicians from the Ottawa and Gatineau regions, keyboardist Guy LeBlanc (1960-2015) was widely regarded as the essence and constant of the band.
Guy appears to be more widely known as the keyboardist for Progressive Rock Legends Camel since 2000. Recording and touring resulted in a Nod and a Wink and The Paris Collection (Live).
They have released numerous concept-based CDs to critical acclaim, including Shadows Unbound, and the Heretik Trilogy. Furthermore, they have played several prestigious music festivals including NEARfest, and FMPM.
Nathan Mahl originally formed in Dec. 1981. The first version was formed when Guy LeBlanc, Don Prince and Mark Spénard, who had played together in the band Delerium, recruited Dan Lacasse. It is said that during one night in early 1982, while the band was on an excursion in the Gatineau National Park, the name took on its final form and the seed was planted.
This first line-up went on to compose and record their first LP Parallel Eccentricities, in December 1982 releasing it in the Spring of 1983. It seems that 1983 was the busiest for Mahl, as they rehearsed full-time and gigged arguably almost as often. During that summer, they entered a band contest and performed in the finals of the Ottawa classic rock radio station Chez-106 (Sharechez '83), apparently blowing the roof off Barrymore's Music Hall. Some time in late 1983, Dan Lacasse left the group and was replaced by Wayne Palmer till Feb. 27, 1984. This was when Guy, for personal reasons, disbanded the group.
In 1986, the band was shortly reformed as a trio (LeBlanc, Lacasse, Prince). 4 new songs were written and recorded, but never released. Again in 1989, this time with second keyboardist Garth Boyd and without guitar, a seemingly more fusion Nathan Mahl ended the decade. Once again 5 new songs with this line-up were recorded but not released. The decade ended with Lacasse and Prince both leaving the group.
The 90s began with a new rhythm section: Alain Paluck as drummer, Claude Prince on bass, joining LeBlanc and Boyd (the duelling keys). Many new songs were composed and rehearsed, but only rehearsals were ever recorded with this line-up. It was at this time that Guy decided to create the Mahl Dynasty improv project.
...
Wikipedia