Sagapool

Sagapool is a Canadian folk group formed in Montreal in 1999. It begins as a six-piece instrumental band and, according to its early history, is conceived in the halls of the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. The group is previously known as Manouche.

Style and instrumentation

Sagapool plays an instrumental blend shaped by Montreal’s cultural mix. Its music draws on gypsy music, gypsy swing and klezmer, while also bringing in ska, Latin and folk rhythms. The group’s sound uses guitar, double bass, accordion, percussion, banjo, glockenspiel, Rhodes, violin, clarinet and piano, with all of these instruments handled by multi-instrumentalist players.

Releases and reception

The band’s third album is Épisode Trois, which marks a later stage in its work and keeps its focus on an expansive, borderless style. The album receives a strong public and critical response, is named Album of the Week by Montreal newspaper Ici, reaches number one on the CIBL World chart for seven consecutive weeks, enters the top 10 of Montreal CD sales and places at number six on the !Earshot Jazz chart.

Career highlights

Since 1999, Sagapool has performed more than 300 times in Canada and gives four major performances at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The group sells more than 8,000 copies of its first two albums. Its album St-Urbain Café is nominated for best instrumental album at the 2006 ADISQ awards, and the band wins the Roseq-Radarts award in the same year. In 2008, it wins Instrumental group of the year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and CBC/GALAXIE Rising Star. It is also selected for SXSW in 2009. The band’s first United States performance takes place in 2007 at Bliss Fest in Michigan.