Marie-Veěronique Bourque Captures Endless Winter Snow with Holiday Song “The Shovel Shuffle”
There’s a satisfaction in shoveling snow, a certain athleticism, and a nuanced choreography to it all. Who are we kidding – shoveling snow is the worst! But if you live in Canada, it’s a necessity, and jazz flutist Marie-Veìronique Bourque and her band are here to add a little bit of levity to the situation with their new single “The Shovel Shuffle.”
With tinkling piano, passionate vocals, and fiery flute, “The Shovel Shuffle” is a lighthearted and completely jazzy holiday jingle to get you ready for snow, snow, and more snow. But first, let’s be realistic …
Sometimes you wish you were born in Australia
Or in another warm place such as California
No fingers turning blue
No runny nose, no flu
No snow day stuck babysitting your sister
No winter coat to wear
No tuque flattening your hair
A bit of sunshine would be fair
The chorus then roars in with, “Hustle, hustle, get your shovel/ Get your shovel it’s a snow day.” The accompanying music video pans back and forth between the band playing on a close, cozy stage and Marie-Veìronique alone in a vast snowscape shoveling away. The video is a fun way to watch the deft instrumentation of the band and to get a few well-placed chuckles at the frustrations of shoveling winter’s never-ending white stuff.
Watch the video for “The Shovel Shuffle” below and learn more about Marie-Veìronique Bourque via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself?
My name is Marie-Véronique (MV) Bourque, and I am a jazz flutist and singer-songwriter. I graduated from the Conservatoire de musique de Québec where I was awarded 1st prizes in classical flute and chamber music. Then, life threw me a nice curveball, and for 25 years, I was an RCMP officer. There, I was a part of a drug unit, was a firearm instructor, and did some cool investigations. I loved that work but was missing my music.
I moved to Regina to become an instructor at the RCMP Academy, and in the following months, I also joined the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Quarter Tones Flute Ensemble. I was starting to reconnect with music.
During a festival, I saw jazz pianist Maurice Drouin on stage. During intermission, I asked if one day I could join him. He said, ‘why not? Let’s do it now!’’. I went on stage, and for the first time, I played my flute without sheet music, improvising and enjoying every single moment of it.
That was it. I was hooked on jazz! Since then, I have released two jazz flute albums: Une porte s’ouvre (2018) and Entre Québec & Saskatchewan (2021). I was the opening act for Carol Welsman, performed in a double bill with Derrick Gardner, was a guest artist with Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, and was one of the soloists with the NFA Jazz Flute Big Band. I met wonderful musicians in Europe, in Canada, and in the United States.
Tell us about the process of writing “The Shovel Shuffle.”
Having lived in Québec City and in Regina, I know the joy of shoveling. I started writing The Shovel Shuffle, sitting at the piano in my music room, watching the snow falling and my neighbor shoveling. I was dreading having to do the same. It was at this exact moment that the chorus came to my head.
About the lyrics:
I have fond memories of snow fort building and making snowmen as a kid.
As an adult, I still dream of those good times!
Occasionally, I take the risk of putting on my skates or my skis even though I don’t always look very graceful on them.
Frankly, I enjoy shoveling after a snowstorm. I particularly enjoy the relief of knowing that the job is done and that I can go warm-up.
Having eight siblings, a snow day meant having to babysit.
I traveled to California to study jazz flute at the Hidden Valley Music Seminars. There, I met some great friends, including my mentor, Ali Ryerson.
I have never been to Australia. It is on my bucket list.
And no, I don’t like wearing a hat as It flattens my hair!
What’s it like being a musician in Regina, SK?
First, Saskatchewan is a beautiful place, even though it is hard to spell!
It was the perfect place to find the inspiration for writing The Shovel Shuffle. It is also in Regina that I fell in love with jazz, and I am so grateful for it. I’ve met really talented musicians who became my friends and with whom I enjoy playing and having some good laughs!
But… because there is always a but…, it was also in Regina that during a gig, I was once offered two beers to stop playing as I was told ‘’farmers don’t like jazz’’!
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
As a Jazz flutist, it might look like a cliché to say: Moe Koffman, but I will stick to it! I was totally blown away the first time I heard him. I still love listening to the vinyls I own of him. They are so different from one another.
Moe Koffman found his inspiration from several musical genres. He was genuine in his musical abilities, playing two wind instruments at the same time, and what to say of his compositions and arrangements! I paid him a tribute by recording his Swingin’ Shepherd Blues on my album Une porte s’ouvre.
You’ve been making music for a while now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Surround yourself with people who will help you rise as a musician and as a person. Get in the door that opens up for you, where you are welcome. Work hard and know your stuff. Be humble…just enough. Play with your heart because you have something to say, and enjoy the ride!