Fred Chapellier

Chapellier is world class and it was only natural that, when he joined Dixiefrog in 2007, he paid homage to his world class idol Roy Buchanan (« A Tribute to Roy Buchanan »). A CD considered as a milestone, recorded, of course, with a galaxy of world class musicians: Billy Price, the last lead singer in Buchanan’s band, Neal Black, Tom Principato and Jean-Alain Roussel, also co-producer of the album. What came next was a magnificent musical journey made up of 8 albums. For those who have followed the path of Jacques Dutronc’s number one guitarist there are no surprises; everything is in the nuance. Fred Chapellier is not one of those guitarists set in the indestructible stone of certainty. You just need to listen to that first track ‘Blues on my Radio’ to be convinced, and to hear those resonating words paying hommage to all his influences. Or to recognize the audacious choice of Gladys Knight and the Pips’, ‘I’ve got to use my Imagination’, to understand that our man is not always where we expect him, as he claims this musical heritage for his own, giving it the personal touch, and making all the difference. If something well thought out attains perfect form, there’s no doubt that “Straight To The Point” album is just that, marvelously expressing the quintessence of Fred Chapellier’s music.