"One of the most unique musical experiences available".
--Philippe P. Rey, Musical Director, In Guitar Festival, Switzerland
A slide guitar heavyweight, vocalist, song shape shifter, and collaborator extraordinaire is a thumb nail
sketch of Lester Quitzau’s talents. One formidable artist and musician, this west coast resident has been
taking his music to audiences all over Canada and Europe for the last 38 years in a multitude of settings,
and most, if not all, are memorable for a host of reasons. Lester as of late, has been creating and dispensing
riveting sounds in solo and duo settings, playing major events like the Vancouver Island Music Festival and
Calgary Blues Festival or intimate shows at Festival Place in Sherwood Park and the Strathcona Performing
Arts Center in Edmonton to enthusiastic audiences.
Sandro Dominelli is one of Canada’s most creative, talented, and tasteful drummers. Through his
continuing success as a much sought-after composer, bandleader, side man, and producer, he has proven to
be an established luminary in the Canadian music scene. Sandro’s musical sensibilities have caught the
attention of international and local blues musicians alike, who have been inspired to perform or record with
his influence including David Clayton Thomas, Colin James, Tom Cochrane, Jack DeKeyzer, Jack Semple,
Lester Quitzau. Most recently, having won the 2018 Edmonton Memphis Blues Challenge and placing in the
semi-finals of the International Blues Challenge, Sandro has firmly established himself in the Canadian blues
community. As a composer, Sandro has received a Juno nomination, 2 Western Canadian Music Awards,
Canadian Music Award, City of Edmonton Arts Awards, and more.
Quitzau has a lot of successes, lessons, and triumphs to draw on at this point in his career, it’s obvious there is a through line of exploration and innovation that runs deep and true through this journey. Canadian blues broadcasting guru Holger Petersen sums up his appreciation of Quitzau’s talents, reminding us that “Lester’s slide playing is in that rarified category and he has that great combination of skill, tone, and studied knowledge. He’s a class artist, whose music has a direct connection to the heart and soul.”
“He shines equally in performance and on recordings. Lester’s melodious and sensitive approach is driven with power and he creates an intersection of blues, roots and jazz that became the signature Quitzau sound, says Cindy McLeod, the long-time producer of the Calgary Blues Festival.”
“Playing with Sandro allows me to open up harmonically and melodically while supporting the deep groove he lays down.
“ As Doug Cox, a respected musical peer and long-time producer of the Vancouver Island Music Festival has stated, “if you get the chance to see him, don’t miss out, Lester Quitzau is one of Canada’s guitar Zen-masters, simply one of our finest artists.” Lester Quitzau