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Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Tribute to Neil Chotem
Sunday, August 11, 2 p.m.
Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Congregation
5065 Sherbrooke Street, Lachine, Quebec, H8T 1H9, (514) 637-6974.
Admission; $25.
A concert honoring the work and influence of pianist/composer/arranger Neil Chotem, who, throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, was one of the busiest and most versatile musicians of Quebec.
The musical ensemble will include Neil Chotem's eldest son, Tony Chotem on guitar and guitar synthesizer, Montreal singer/songwriter Kerry-Anne Kutz on vocals, as well as former Harmonium collaborators Monique Fauteux on keyboards and vocals and Louis Valois on bass and vocals.
The program will feature original compositions and arrangements by Neil Chotem, Tony Chotem, Kerry-Anne Kutz, and Harmonium.
Born in Saskatoon, Neil Chotem settled in Montreal after serving in the RCAF as an entertainer during the Second World War. He quickly became a significant contributor to CBC radio and television, often juggling several weekly shows simultaneously. He has written music for countless CBC radio and television dramas in collaboration with famous Quebec producers like Paul Blouin and Pierre Morin.
Harry Belafonte asked him to direct a cross-Canada tour with Pete Seeger, Nana Mouskouri, Maureen Forester, and Monique Leyrac, performing with all the major Canadian orchestras. Neil Chotem had the honor of being the ‘’go to’’ arranger/conductor for the ‘’crème de la crème’’ of French-speaking artists of the 1960s and 1970s, including Robert Charlebois, Claude Léveillée, Gilles Vigneault, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and of course, Harmonium.
Jazz and classical guitarist Tony Chotem has toured extensively across Canada and the United States. He is a repeat performer at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and has performed at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and the Orion Independent Music Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2007, Tony released his first original jazz CD: Phoenix Rising, and recently completed his second jazz album: In A Dream in 2022. He has appeared on CTV, and been interviewed several times on CBC radio. He was also reviewed in Canadian Musician Magazine.
Singer-songwriter, stage musician, producer, and sound engineer, Louis Valois was one of the founding members of the historic Quebec rock group Harmonium, with whom he recorded three studio albums and a live album, followed by tours across Canada and Europe from 1972 until 1978. Singer/ keyboardist Monique Fauteux has been part of the Quebec song landscape for several decades and was also a member of Harmonium. She collaborates regularly with Judi Richards, Sylvie Tremblay, Gilles Valiquette and the group Coeur en Quatre.
Kerry-Anne Kutz, soprano, is a singer-songwriter and recording artist. She performs a wide range of styles from classical to jazz. Kerry-Anne was the first woman in Canada chosen to be part of the RCMP band. She is an international artist who has performed in Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico, Singapore, Australia and India. Kerry-Anne has sung on television, radio, for film soundtracks and has collaborated musically with Céline Dion, André Gagnon, and L'Orchestre Métropolitain among others. Kerry-Anne received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal for her musical contributions to the Montreal community and Canada in November 2012, and a Canada 150 award in 2017. She is the founder and artistic director of the Festival de la Voix à Montréal , and the Art Songs of Canada project.

Tony, Monique, Louis, and Kerry-Anne are delighted to present their celebration of the work, and influence of Neil Chotem and his famous collaboration with Harmonium.