It took almost seven years to hear a new Valaire album. For this big comeback, the quintet wanted to return to their jazz roots. so here is futona CD that still includes several collaborations and instrumentals.
We catch Luis Clavis on the phone when he finds himself in a van with the other members of Valaire, who also happen to be members of Qualité Motel.
This last parallel project, very active for a few years, has taken up a lot of space since the pandemic. “As far as the schedule is concerned, Qualité Motel took over completely,” admits Luis. This summer it will be necessary to slow down certain dates of the Qualité Motel to leave more room for Valaire.
If Valaire has faded a bit in recent years, the group is back in force with an album they’ve taken time to refine. “At Valaire, we always have a desire to think things through,” says Luis. We made a lot more material than the album. After that we did a sorting, we let it rest.
Room for Alan Prater
As usual, the group called several guests. Jazz Futon collaborators include Alan Prater (The Brooks), Ciscero, Fanny Bloom, Mel Pacifico and Mike Clay.
Due to working with him on stage, the members of Valaire also decided to give Alan Prater even more space for the project.
“We really understood all his talent,” said Luis. We invited him into the studio to sing on four or five songs. There’s a few in there that we wanted to get rid of before it arrived. And after his death they all returned in the middle of the album and became our favorite songs in one night!
If he can, Alan Prater will also accompany Valaire on his tour. “We know this guy has a lot to teach us, both as a musician and as a person,” says Luis. We want him to have a good place in the group. I think this is the first time we’ve opened the door so wide for an employee of this nature.”
Mature and furniture
With the album completed, the members of Valaire debated what title to give it. They played the new songs to those designing all of their visuals.
“They told us it was some kind of living room party,” Luis said. There’s still the festive side of our beginnings, but there’s also something more mature, more furniture, more living rooms.
Inspired by the jazz fusion of UZEB, Valaire therefore decided on a title that couldn’t be more apt: Jazz Futon.
After three opening shows at Dièse Onze in Montreal, Valaire will take the MTelus stage by storm on Saturday night as part of Nuit blanche de Montréal en Lumière.
rearrange the past
The musicians have spent the last few weeks rearranging their old songs with their new material.
“If there’s anything we took away from Qualité Motel, it’s the joy of making mash-ups between our songs and others’,” says Luis. The result is really very pleasant. It allows us to explore what we have done in the past.
For the remainder of 2023, musicians will roam between shows at the Valaire and Qualité Motel. A new edition of La virée du Saint-Laurent is also planned, as is a visit to Europe. “We would like to go back there in the fall,” concludes Luis.
♦ Valaire’s new album, futon, is available. The group will be performing at the MTelus in Montreal tonight. He will also play at the Impérial Bell in Quebec on March 10th. For all appointments: valaire.mu.