P.B. + 3½ - Gazou, gazou b/w Le sablier

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Gazou, gazou (Stéphane Venne, Paul Baillargeon)	02:32

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Le sablier (Stéphane Venne, Paul Baillargeon)	02:04

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Information/Write-up

Paul Baillargeon is a Canadian composer, arranger, and pianist whose eclectic musical journey has taken him from the vibrant chanson scene of 1960s Quebec to the orchestral soundstages of Hollywood science fiction. Born in Montreal in 1944, Baillargeon came of age during a creative explosion in Quebec’s popular music, quickly becoming a sought-after studio presence known for his adventurous arrangements and deft touch on the keys.

In 1967, he released a curious and now-cult single under the pseudonym P.B. + 3½, featuring the tracks “Gazou, gazou” and “Le sablier.” This playful 7-inch captured Baillargeon’s early spirit of experimentation: the A-side bursts with rhythmic drive, and kazoo solos, while the B-side drifts into jazzy bossa nova territory with mellow scat phrases and piano-bass interplay. Though modest in commercial reach, the single remains a fascinating snapshot of his willingness to blur stylistic boundaries.

Throughout the 1970s, Baillargeon deepened his reputation as an arranger and musical director, collaborating with some of Quebec’s top vocalists, including Renée Claude, Donald Lautrec, and Ginette Reno. He also composed original soundtracks for local films—an uncommon feat at the time—including Viens, mon amour and Y’a plus de trou à Percé. His solo albums 8133 (1974) and Je veux chanter (1976) further demonstrated his range, mixing chanson, jazz, and theatrical flair.

In the 1980s, Baillargeon turned to musical theatre, writing full-length works like La course au bonheur and La vie du Frère André en chansons, while continuing his work in television and studio production. But it was his move to the United States in the 1990s that opened a new chapter—composing scores for more than 40 episodes across Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. His sweeping orchestral cues became a key part of the franchise’s sonic identity during its later golden age.

Recognized by his peers for a lifetime of musical innovation, Baillargeon has received numerous accolades, including SOCAN’s International Achievement Award and the SPACQ Foundation’s Richard Grégoire Prize. Whether arranging heartfelt chanson, crafting experimental singles, or scoring for the stars, Paul Baillargeon has always followed his ear beyond convention—quietly shaping the soundtracks of both Quebec and the cosmos.
-Robert Williston

Produced by Coda Musique

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