by SCOTT C

The first time I saw the Genie perform, I simply wasn't prepared for the spectacle. Using an electric guitar, a multi-effects foot pedal and a microphone, he was able to create a layered mish-mash of riffs, licks and tricks, backed by a looped beat box - all in a matter of 25 seconds, live on stage. He built track after track of weaving hip hop instrumentalism laced with guitar and sampled guitar byproducts while a mystified audience looked on with head-nodding appreciation.

The Genie is Luis Monterossa, a passionate, socially aware San Francisco expatriate who turned a lot of heads in this city when he bum-rushed the 2002 DMC Championships and gave the audience an unexpected treat. Ever since then, he's been playing around Montreal, blowing people away with his on-the-fly productions.

The Genie recently recorded the album Rebel Music, with the aid of Montreal's High Life Music and his good friend DJ Horg, an album that attempts to capture the essence of his live show. The album is a testament to the globetrotting tendencies of this talented musician, who clearly tries to impart a piece of his travels into every song. Upcoming projects include a DVD, a live album, and collaborations with the many people the Genie has been blessed to meet along the way.

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