Obit: Jarvis Benoit

Subject: Obit: Jarvis Benoit
From: meself
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 12:07 PM

Very sad news out of Halifax, NS, for anyone who knew this great fiddler and wonderful man.

And anyone who knew him, or was familiar with his music, will second what his son Louis and pianist Bill Stevenson say about him in the article. One thing they don't mention is that, off-stage, he was a tremendous raconteur, and if he didn't have a fiddle in his hand, he could keep you entertained with stories all night ...


On second thought, I'll paste the article here, in case it doesn't stay up long at the Chronicle-Herald site. I was pleased to see that this was considered front-page news ... There is a photo at the C-H site.


Fiddler Jarvis Benoit dies

By KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE Staff Reporter
Sun. Apr 13 - 5:59 AM


Jarvis Benoit had an extra special zest for fiddling and for life, his son recalled Saturday.

"People liked him right off," Louis Benoit said of his late father, who died Friday afternoon at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax of complications following an operation at the age of 83.

"He was just an all-around good guy," he said of the Trenton-born man, who lived south of the border for a few years as a child but spent much of his life in Arichat and Halifax.

"He was never rich or anything, but he was generous with his time."

Indeed, the modest but mighty talented musician started sharing tunes with the world at five years old, playing harmonica for the people of Watertown, Mass.

"He busked on the streets," Louis said. "He was actually hiding the money under his porch and treating all the kids to candy. His mother probably didn't really like it and put a stop to it, I think."

But Mr. Benoit never stopped, picking up the fiddle at age eight and playing his way into the hearts of folks across the province and the country.

"He was an extraordinary fiddler," said his son, who acquired the music gene from his father and went on the road with him as part of The Jarvis Benoit Quartet.

"He could span all the different styles . . . he had a great touch — that's what people say about him."

Local jazz pianist Bill Stevenson welcomed the chance to vouch for Mr. Benoit's flair for the fiddle.

He said the Acadian musician had "a vast repertoire" and could "play for days without repeating himself."

"There was nobody quite like Jarvis because he had the French style, he had the Cape Breton style and the French leaned toward the Irish, so he was a romantic," Mr. Stevenson said Saturday.

"He also had a real understanding (of) swing, so he and I kind of hit it off."

Mr. Benoit also approached life with a positive attitude and exuded confidence, something that rubbed off on those around him, he said.

He was also "a great guy at a party," Mr. Stevenson added with a fond chuckle.

"He had such a love for the music," he said.

"We all learned a great deal from him."

In addition to his son, Mr. Benoit is also survived by wife Marie Claire Benoit, daughter Nancy Macdonald, two sib-lings and a large extended family.

( [e-mail])

Subject: RE: Obit: Jarvis Benoit
From: GUEST,dwaine and patti
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 05:09 PM

sorry to hear the loss of jarvis.our pyrayers with are with you will be sadly missed and be in our hearts.may god be with hin in heaven above where jarvis will surley go.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jarvis Benoit
From: Bee
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 05:15 PM

I was just coming to post this. He was a wonderful man and a great musician.

One of my best music memories is of attending a kitchen party, years ago, in Halifax with Jarvis and Louis in attendance. They played the night away, and the rest of us went home with aching legs from the hours of dancing.

My deepest sympathies go out to family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jarvis Benoit
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 10:45 PM

My sympathy to his family as well! He was a great fiddler with a very unique style.

Subject: RE: Obit: Jarvis Benoit
From: meself
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 08:40 PM

Just going to send this thread to the top one more time, to make sure everyone who might be interested gets a chance to see it ...

Subject: RE: Obit: Jarvis Benoit
From: Beer
Date: 14 Apr 08 - 09:13 PM

Thanks for sending it back to the top myself. I never met the man but have heard this playing a bit. I have a nice picture of Louis,David MacIsaac and myself together. Good memories.
Sympathies to all his love ones.
Adrien