BAM PERCUSSION BIOGRAPHY Steve Burman and Jean-Sébastien Dallaire form BAM in February 1999. In 2001, Denis Richard jr joins and completes the dynamic trio. In 2007, Steve Burman very sadly passes away... To honor their fallen friend and colleague, Jean-Sébastien, Denis and VincentBoudreau (who had replaced Denis Richard jr from 2003 to 2005) will continue to do what BAM does best, and what Steve loved to do more than anything, making people laugh like crazy! Individually, the group members have all achieved success in different fields: talent contests, television appearances, freestyle skiing and martial arts competitions, and many years of drum studies... Put all that together and you have BAM, an explosive force in the world of percussion and impeccable comedic timing. It is during the 1999 Just for Laughs search-for-new-talent contest that BAM,performing for only their second time as a group, achieves 2nd place at the national level. Later, at the Culture Awards of the Foundation of Arts, Literature and Culture of the Outaouais, the group is awarded the Best New Creation prize for their work. In Canada the trio performs in many festivals, including the Just for LaughsFestival (1999 and 2000) and the Québec Summer Festival (1999). In 2000,the members of BAM undertake their first European tour, covering the following countries: England, France, Norway and Italy. The tour is a major success--so much so, that BAM returns to Europe a month later for the International Expo in Hanover, Germany, visiting as well France, England, Belgium and Portugal. In November 2000, the group is invited to participate in the French Festivalin Hawaii. For the 2001 season, BAM concentrates its European tour in Belgium and Holland. In February 2002, BAM performs in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre for the Toronto Raptors half-time show. In 2002, BAM finishes a three-and-a-half month European tour, performing more than 120 shows and being voted along the way ''Best Show'' by the public of the International Showcase in Valladolid, Spain (a competition that included 35 other international acts). In November 2002, BAM is awarded the most promising Artist prize at the Culture Awards for the IVe Jeux de la Francophonie. Also, the group is showcased at Cinars International, in Montréal. In February 2003, BAM is invited to perform in front of 15 000 people at the International Vina Del Mar song festival, in Chile. In May 2003, BAM is recruited to work on the new Cirque du Soleil TV series 'Solstrom', in Montréal. In April 2004, BAM is a sold-out hit at the Philadelphia International Children's Festival. In May 2004, BAM performs a 2-week tour of the North Ontario school district organized by Réseau Ontario. From June to September 2004, the group completes yet another successful European tour, visiting Hungary, Belgium, France, Norway, Italy, and the UK, as well as performing in the Middle East at the Bat Yam festival in Israel. In October 2004, BAM completes a 3-week eastern Canadian tour with RADARTS in the Maritime Provinces. The show is 100% guaranteed by RADARTS, which gives the members of the audience the right to obtain a full refund if they are not 100% satisfied with a given performance. BAM performs 18 shows in a row on this tour and not one person asks for a refund!! In January 2004, BAM is invited to perform at the Christchurch World Busker Festival, in New Zealand. The show is a hit! In March 2005, after returning from a stretch of great performances in New Zealand, BAM prepares, with the support of Foreign Affairs Canada, for a tour of West and Central Africa. The group will be performing in the following countries: Gabon, Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Guinea. BAM also looks for new inspiration from the incredible worldrenowned African rhythms provided by the best percussionists of the visited countries who share the stage with BAM. In April and May 2005, BAM visits Asia for the first time. More precisely, the BAM Boys perform in Japan and South Korea. In June 2005, the group completes yet another European tour, visiting France, England, Belgium and Holland. In 2006, the group unveils its newly updated show and costumes, much to the delight of the Showcase 2006 audience in Philadelphia, PA. Today, BAM continues to grow on an international level while perfecting their art, to offer a high-quality product available worldwide. Arghhhh!!