Following several years of partnership between Productions du Singe Bleu and Audio d'occasion, two music fanatics: Mario Gagnon and Jean Ouimet founded Session5 Entertainment in December 2008 with the aim of introducing new artists.
Here is an overview of Jean's professional journey :
Foundation of his Company (production and artistic career management)
-1993 to 2007 (Les Productions du Singe Bleu / Ouimet Artistic Management)
-Producer of special events, record producer, shows and TV
1993-1994 Producer-broadcaster :
-Théâtre de la Ville, Longueuil
(C.Léveillé, A.Gagnon, Zébulon and many others)
-La Licorne Theater (Jazz Series, Blues Series, World Music Series)
1994 to 1997 Artist Agency, among the artists represented :
Bob Walsh, Jim Zeller, Adam Karch (blues), Francine Raymond (chanson) Dorothée Berryman (jazz) Takadja , Raoul (world music) Jean-Pierre Zanella (jazz), Don Ross (folk) and others. Organised several tours and festivals across Quebec and Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver, in the United States, France and Switzerland.
1996 to 2006 Artist manager and producer of records and shows :
-Exclusive manager for Bob Walsh (1996-2006), Francine Raymond (2002-2004) and Dorothée Berryman (2003)
-Marketing of the group UN's album (2006)
Television productions (original idea and coordination)
- In partnership with Amérimage / Spectra - Broadcasters: CFCF, Musimax, Global TV
(Quebec sing the Blues Bob Walsh and friends, Medley de Montréal)
(Bob Walsh and the Allard String Quartet, Anglicane de Lévis)
- In partnership with Sogestalt / Spectra
- Broadcasters: SRC and Art TV
(Bob Walsh and the Orchestre symphonique de Québec)
- In partnership with Radar films, music videos by : Bob Walsh, Francine Raymond
Executive producer of the Fête Nationale for the municipalities of :
- 1993 to 1996 Saint-Hubert (shows presented in front of more than 50,000 people, K.Parent, D.Bélanger, L. Jalbert, R.Séguin )
- 1993 to 1996 Sainte-Julie, McMasterville and Greenfield Park
Delegate producer for the Municipality of Saint-Hubert for the presentation of :
- 1995 Orchestre Symphonique de la Montérégie at Parc de la Cité
- 1995 to 1997 Gala Mérite Bénévoles (City of Saint-Hubert)
Member of professional associations :
- ROSEC, RIDEAU, ADISQ, SOPROQ, SODRAC, SOCAN
Recipient of grants :
- SODEC, CALC, CALQ,MUSICACTION
2007 In charge of programming and the Bateau L'Escale venue
- In charge of programming shows for the summer season
- In charge of the venue (welcoming the public, technical coordination and show logistics).
Awards and distinctions :
- Young Entrepreneurs Grant (Ministry of Employment and Technology) 1994
- 1 JUNO Award for World Music Album of the Year (Takadja) 1998
- 1 ADISQ nomination (Takadja) World Music
- 2 Juno nominations for Album of the Year (Jean-Pierre Zanella)
- 1 Félix Award for: Anglophone Artist of the Year (Bob Walsh) 2003
- 7 ADISQ nominations with Bob Walsh
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And an overview of Mario's career path:
- 1982 to 1985 Imagina-son demo studio
- 1985 to present, founding of the Audio d'occasion boutique
1986-87 Contributor to the radio show "Classe Audio" on CIBL-FM.
Michel Leroux was host. An open line allowing people to ask questions about high fidelity.
1987 2nd anniversary of Audio d'occasion, presentation of a show to customers.
With the participation of Francois Marcaurèle, Mathieu Léger Francine Martel and Michel Fizzano.
1989 Opera appreciation evenings
Audio/video presentation with Patrick Schupp as speaker, familiarization with several authors/composers as well as several great works.
1990 5th anniversary of Audio d'occasion
Show to launch the first album by Jocelyn Brûlé's jazz band.
1995 10th anniversary of Audio d'occasion
Presentation of a show with the group Takadja for its 10th anniversary.
1996-2005 Co-producer of 6 CDs and several shows by Bob Walsh
2018 Audio d'occasion celebrates its 33rd anniversary
Show to launch the Bob Walsh vinyl compilation album "Collection" to commemorate his career, LP produced entirely by HIFIPRO, Audio d'occasion's online sales subsidiary.
2019 Private launch of King Melrose's 3rd album with Toby Gendron
2019 Private launch of Alexande Poulin's album "Nature Humaine
2021 Series of articles on hi-fi for La Scena Musicale magazine