Andre Bisson Band

The native of Rose Lake Township, near Bruce Mines, can only go through so much pain to share with audiences through his blues music. The Central Algoma Secondary School graduate started to develop some serious book-reading chops circa 2016. Bisson estimates he’s gone cover-to-cover on 400 titles.

“I went a little nuts,” he said. “I just really got into it. I get excited about different ideas and concepts that come up.”

Credit a polarized United States during the 2016 presidential election for sparking his ongoing read-a-thon.

“I just thought how can so many people be so divided on one thing,” said Bisson. “There’s got to be reasons for it.”

Most of Bisson’s reading centres on non-fiction works. Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers: The Story of Success), Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, books about stoicism and behavioral economics have all been read by the Hamilton, Ont.-based musician. He’s also read works of fiction by George Orwell (1984), John Steinbeck (The Pearl) and William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury).

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“A lot of my writing now comes from reading books,” Bisson told The Sault Star during a recent interview. “It motivates me and it also gives me a different perspective on songwriting, as well.”

The title track of his latest album, The Ballad of Lucy Stone, was based on reading Bisson did about people who overcame major obstacles. Stone was an American abolitionist in the 19th century. Bisson became “really inspired” reading about the proponent for women’s rights. He “dug deeper” to learn more about the Massachusetts native who founded Woman’s Journal.

“As I did that, this song just came out,” said Bisson.

He plans to include The Ballad of Lucy Stone and at least five other songs from his latest album when the plays The Machine Shop on Thursday at 7 p.m. as part of Ontario Winter Carnival Bon Soo. Sault Blues Society presents the show.
Bisson was jotting down some notes based on his reading of Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life before speaking with The Sault Star. He makes sure to “keep handy” a journal to jot down concepts, ideas and phrases while reading.

Bisson makes sure to dive into titles with stances he doubts he’ll see eye-to-eye with.

“You can’t just read all the stuff you agree with,” he said. “You have to see it from the other perspective of something. I think sometimes the only way you can be 100 per cent objective or have an opinion is really understand the other side. Sometimes I find that interesting.” - Brian Kelly

Friday March 10th 2023, on a blustery and snowy evening, we set out from our HQ in Port Credit, Ontario and headed westwards along the lakeshore on a 35 minute drive, our destination was Burlington, to meet up and spend the evening with singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and musician (yes, all of those) André Bisson, and his partner and band member, Loretta Hale. Our purpose was to present the Blues & Roots Radio International Song Contest Award to André, which he had won at the end of January 2023. We don't often get to present the award personally, as the contestants are literally from all over the world, previous winners having come from America, Scotland, and, during the pandemic from here in Canada which prevented us from meeting in person.


All songs are judged by an independent panel of jurors who are presenters on the station, and are currently in the music industry around the world, a number of whom sit on regional and national award panels. Each year the submission numbers grow, and it's not an easy task to whittle the entries down to the category winners and overall winner. We are very grateful for the time jurors spend listening to each track submitted.


The contest is held by our sister platform, Blues & Roots Radio, annually, the competition's mission is to provide the opportunity to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels, both amateur and professional, and promote excellence in the art of song craft. Previous overall winners have included Thornetta Davis, Lynne Hanson, Colin Clyne and Terra Spencer.


So it was a real delight and pleasure for my wife Anne and I, as co-founders of Blues & Roots Radio, to present this award on behalf of the station. And, at this point I would like to say how very grateful we are to our sponsors, Cooper Mediation, Global Learning Solutions and The Sound Cafe, for without their support the contest would not be possible. - Stevie Connor

Sometimes we just don’t realize what we really have until it’s gone. This well-known truism gives award-winning singer-songwriter André Bisson the foundation for his funky, driving new single, “Missing You.”

The first taste of the Hamilton-based artist’s ninth album, The Ballad of Lucy Stone, “Missing You” is a killer, scathing blues track with a funkified soul. André’s guitar is meaty and rhythmic, and his voice is primed with emotion and gravelly heartache. The horn section jumps in with searing melodic fills, and the super tight rhythm section solidly ushers the whole song along at a pace guaranteed to inspire maximum groove.

“‘Missing You” is about a man who has talked his way out of a good relationship and hopes that it’s not too late to fix it,” said the 2022 Hamilton Arts Award nominee. “There is a revelation that becomes clear: it’s not who we can live with but instead who we can’t live without.”

Regrets are the fuel that drives “Missing You” and makes the song universally relatable.

“Sometimes all the little changes that are asked of us are for our own benefit, to improve our own quality of life,” André explained. ”Sometimes it takes being deprived of that to realize just how truly special our relationship is. The hope is that this epiphany is realized before it’s too late.”

“Missing You” is the first introduction to André’s new album, The Ballad of Lucy Stone, his ninth since 2009. That’s a staggering average of a new album every 18 months for the past 13 years. And all that hard work is paying off. Over those 13 years, André has earned a Hamilton Blues Award for Male Vocalist of the Year and Blues and Roots Radio’s Song of the Year. He’s also been nominated for four Hamilton Arts Awards and was selected by the Grand River Blues Society to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

The Ballad of Lucy Stone is a tribute of sorts to a real, historic figure and builds its theme inspired by her story. Lucy Stone (1818 – 1893) was a women’s rights activist in mid-19th century Massachusetts. Stone was the first woman in the state to earn a college degree and became a vocal advocate and organizer for the women’s suffrage movement, which eventually led to the passing of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote in the U.S.

“The story of Lucy Stone reflects the theme of this album,” André said. “The road to change may be difficult, but many things worth doing often are. We must not avoid the obstacles in our lives but instead face them head on. Fear is only a reminder that we are working towards something worth fighting for.“

André certainly exhibits fearlessness and pure joy when fronting his band, which can range in size from six to 20 members. However, he’s a do-it-yourself artist when it comes to songwriting and arrangements. Much like his previous albums, He’s the sole writer of all 10 tracks on The Ballad of Lucy Stone, and he produced the album. He’s no one-man band in the studio though. While André plays all the guitars and sings lead and some background vocals on this album, he was joined by Jesse O’Brien on piano and keyboards, Mike Rowell on bass guitar, Keagan Early on drums and other percussion, Pat Carey on tenor sax, Gordon Aeichele on tenor & baritone sax and clarinet, Loretta Hale on trumpet and cello, Shawn Moody on trumpet, Rob Somerville on trombone, Lizuarte De Sousa on flute, Kevin Matthews on clarinet, Dan Rodrigues on dobro, accordion and piano, Paul Barna on violin/viola and Theresa Hale-Charters, Quisha Wint and Selena Evangeline on background vocals.

With 13 very busy years of career-building under his belt, André knows the work and dedication it takes to establish and grow in the music biz.

Big changes do not happen overnight,” he said. ”It is the little actions we take each day that make the difference.”

“Missing You” from The Ballad of Lucy Stone is available now. - Eric Alper

R & B, Soul, Stax, Memphis ... led by the piano it comes with "All I Need" in-unleashes high speed from the center of the soul feelings. The blowers provide pressure in the boiler of the locomotive and ever makes André Bisson the handset quite fuzzy in the head. The man comes with its mix of styles over damn good. - Joachim 'Joe' Brookes - Rock Times Denmark

"With a title like Left With The Blues that’s what I was expecting to pull from this batch of songs, but there is so much going on here I was delighted as each track grabbed me and took on some really cool, unexpected side trips. This is a perfect album". - Written by John The Rock Doctor Kereiff - John The Rock Doctor Kereiff - The Record Box

"Left With The Blues veers from soulful ballads to jumpy blues numbers that ignite sparks like metal on flint. This is a robust blues album that leaves an impression.” Invisible Ink - Invisible Ink - Zachary Houle

If the latest CD from local guitar master Andre Bisson, Till the Real Thing Comes Along, doesn't get you movin', you better check your pulse. This is the kinda music that's perfect for groovin' and havin' a good time.

Andre is joined by a fabulous gang of music makers, including members of his J-Tones backing band (Loretta Hale, Matt Burns, Brad Cheeseman, Francis Smith) as well as Jesse O'Brien and Darcy Hepner. Together, they bring the swing, R&B, blues, soul, and rock to the masses

To top everything off, we have some great covers, including Otis Redding's Don't Mess With Cupid and a unique, slow, bluesy take on Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name. - Luis Avery - Hamilton Blues Lover

A refreshingly, alternative musical experience was provided by the Canadian group Andre and the J-Tones."
"A combination of clever arrangements, tasteful guitar work, and exceptionally talented saxophone and trumpet players" - David Scott of Blueswax

If soulfully sung blues, backed up by hot rhythm, with a full, and very funky, horn section do the trick for you, then "Rhythm And Blues Experience" by Andre Bisson will surely work some magic for you.

Check Andre Bisson out at www.andrebisson.ca. If, as I said earlier, Soul & Funky Blues are your bag, then you're gonna want to get your hands on this disc - and that's the place to do it. You're also gonna tell him Pete the Blewzzman sent ya, right?


Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com - Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro

André Bisson
Till The Real Thing Comes Along (Self)
Hamilton’s André Bisson & the J-Tones seem intent on making Steel Town into Soul
Town. What they call an R&B Experience is a full-featured horn band. A relatively young
Bisson sings, plays guitar & piano and writes the band’s material, but the horns do the
heavy lifting. This is their fourth album and they’re quite close enough to the real thing. - John Vermiyea - Toronto Maple Blues Magazine

Since coming to Hamilton six years ago for Mohawk College’s Applied Music program, Andre Bisson has added a little rhythm and blues to the local landscape. The band he developed with fellow students, called Andre and the J–Tones, has spiced up the local club scene with some heavy duty Motown covers while honing his originals. .” - Ric Taylor - The View Magazine

When it comes to Blues and R&B, Funky or Soulfully infused, it really doesn't get much better than "Till The Real Thing Comes Along".

5***** for "Till The Real Thing Comes Along". Thoroughly Enjoyed and Highly Recommended... - John Vermilyea - Blues Underground Network

Local bluesman Andre Bisson's latest CD, Bad Scene recently earned 7 Hamilton Music Awards - and with good reason!

Andre's usual tasty blend of blues, swing, R&B, and soul have received an extra shot of energy. His voice is more powerful than ever and the hot band is right there with him.

The albums packed with incedible numbers: the hard drivin' Soul Survivor, the cool boogie of the title track, straight ahead blues rock (Wasting Time), slow soulful numbers (Ever Since You Went Away) and an excellent cover of Jimi Hendrix's Remember.

Rounding out this killer main band is Loretta Hale (Trumpet), Brad Cheeseman (Bass), Matt Burns (Drums/Tambourine) and Francis Smith (Sax). Special guests include Jesse O'Brien, Darcy Hepner, Andrew King, Kevin Matthews.

This amazing album can be downloaded through and iTunes and cdbaby (where you can also get a CD rip of it). - Luis - Hamilton Blues Lovers