Maneige
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Alain Bergeron, Jérôme Langlois |
| Headquarters | Quebec , Canada |
| Products | Progressive rock and fusion jazz music albums and live performances |
Maneige was a progressive rock and fusion jazz group originating from Quebec, Canada. Recognized as one of the most enduring instrumental acts within Quebec's progressive rock community, they maintained an active presence for multiple decades.
History
Established in 1972 by Alain Bergeron and Jérôme Langlois, Maneige featured Bergeron on flute and saxophone, with Langlois handling keyboard duties. The founding lineup was completed by drummer Gilles Schetagne, percussionist Paul Picard, and bassist Yves Leonard, creating a five-member ensemble. In 1974, the band performed as the opening act for the Dutch progressive group Ekseption and also for Soft Machine at CEGEP Maisonneuve. Their initial two albums were issued through the Harvest label. The debut album, self-titled Maneige, included an extended track on one side that showcased their experimental style. Vincent Langlois, Jérôme’s brother, joined to contribute additional keyboards and wind instruments, while guitarist Denis Lapierre also became part of the group. In 1975, Billboard characterized their sound as "pop avant-garde," blending musique concrète elements akin to early Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd, noting that their album surpassed anticipated success. The band secured a contract with Capitol Records in 1974 and released their sophomore album, Les Porches, in 1975.
Following these releases, Jérôme Langlois departed due to creative disagreements regarding the musical direction; Vincent Langlois then took over sole keyboard responsibilities. Paul Picard returned to the lineup. The subsequent studio albums, Ni vent... ni nouvelle and Libre Service, featured more concise tracks and were reissued on CD during the early 1990s. Maneige toured extensively across Canada, including an appearance at the Winnipeg Heritage Festival in 1978.
In 1979, they released a live recording entitled Composite. During the early 1980s, their sound evolved toward jazz rock across two further albums. The late 1990s saw the release of Live Montreal 1974-1975, which included early performances such as "Le Rafiot" alongside the previously unreleased track "1-2-3-4-5-6."
ProgQuébec reissued archival recordings in 2005 and unveiled the previously unheard early piece "Manège".
In 2022, original members reunited to revive Maneige and delivered several concerts, notably performing at the Montreal International Jazz Festival on July 7, 2023.
Discography
- 1975: Maneige
- 1975: Les Porches, Capitol Records, EMI Of Canada: ST 6438
- 1977: Ni Vent...Ni Nouvelle
- 1978: Libre Service - Self Service
- 1979: Composite
- 1980: Montréal, 6 am
- 1981: Images
- 1998: Live Montréal 1974-1975
- 2005: Live à l’Évêché 1975
- 2005: Live
- 2006: Les Porches Live