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Bertrand LAURENCE is one of the Boston area's best folk blues guitarists, and he's just finished a fine new CD, La Vie en Bleu, to showcase his stuff. "Blues like a humid southern afternoon with a Parisian attitude...he's done his homework." (TAB ). "The Man sure has his way with the Boogie" (Ruth Brown, NPR). "The French flash of guitar" (David HERWALDT, WMBR-FM)

A good finger-style blues guitarist needs no accompaniment. Playing bass and lead guitar simultaneously, alternating tempo and emotional impact, the guitarist offers a seamless, roots rock experience. Unfortunately, you do not often get the opportunity to hear finger-style blues played. Why? Because it takes a lot of time, effort, talent and motivation to master the technique.

Almost twenty years ago, Bertrand LAURENCE left his home in France to come to America to be close to the music's source. During those twenty years he had to overcome the financial burden of fifty-dollar gigs, INS agents, broken fingernails and hair loss. He also developed his craft, the culmination of which is his recently released debut CD, La Vie en Bleu.

Describing his guitar style as "Raggin' the Blues," "Ragtime Swing" and "Spookie Woogie," Bertrand credits Leo KOTTKE, Merle TRAVIS and Big Bill Broonzy as his mentors. Wielding a six-string acoustic and electric guitar, a tewlve-string acoustic and a Dobro slide guitar, Bertrand skillfully blends tradition with inventiveness and humor.

The cross-over appeal of Bertrand's music has allowed him to be welcomed in Folk, Blues and Rock clubs. He has opened for such diverse artists as Eric ANDERSEN, Ronnie EARL, Paul RICHELL, Paul GEREMIA, Martin SIMPSON, country rockers The Darlings, surf band Big Ray and the Futuras, and acoustic guitar virtuoso Pierre BENSUSAN.

Bertrand has also been featured on National Public Radio's broadcast of "Blues Stage." He will be performing with his band, The Jellyrollers, at the Boston Folk Festival at UMassBoston on September 25, 1999 as well at the Blues Festival at Hatch Shell the same day. He is the only artist invited to both events.

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