A renowned musician on the Quebec jazz scene died accidentally on Sunday. Saxophonist Mario Allard, member of the group Papagroove who notably shared the stage with Robert Charlebois, leaves to mourn a partner, a young son and many friends.
“I have just lost a precious colleague,” commented with emotion Alain Bédard, president of the Effendi record company. The latter had been collaborating with Mario Allard for around ten years, notably within the group Jazzlab Orchestra and Alain Bédard Auguste Quartet.
“Yesterday morning, we discussed organizing future projects,” Mr. Bédard reported Monday. Mario was an exceptional musician capable of playing any music. »
Mr. Allard, aged around forty, notably accompanied blues rock singer-songwriter Steve Hill on a tour. “He’s a very versatile guy, in demand in many styles of music,” Mr. Hill said in a telephone interview, expressing shock. The latter especially remembers “a human being with a big heart, hypersympathetic, hyperpositive”.
Holder of a master’s degree in jazz performance from McGill University, the saxophonist released an album in 2007 under the name Mario Allard Quartet, then an album in his name entitled Slideshow in 2017.
A stupid accident
Mr. Allard lost his life when he threw a Christmas tree from his balcony, which fell and landed on a fence. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
“The accident is absolutely not representative of Mario’s life,” declared his trumpeter friend Jacques Kuba Séguin, upset by the tragic news. According to him, his colleague took care of him and his health. “It’s bad luck, like it could have happened to anyone.” »
Mr. Séguin also highlighted the extent to which Mario Allard brought people together and was loved by his musical community. “A whole generation of musicians was influenced by Mario,” he judges. In addition, despite his busy schedule, he was someone very close to his family. »
Dozens of musicians published messages on Facebook on Monday to express their sadness, their astonishment and their affection towards Mario Allard.
