Born in 1958 in Montreal, Yvan Belleau studied clarinet at l'Université de Montréal. He went on to master the soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, as well as the bass clarinet. Proving to be a seasoned musician, he caught the eye (and ear) of eminent local musicians such as Guy Nadon and Vic Vogel, both of whom regularly recruit him. Belleau also worked closely with the late Eval Manigat for 15 years. In 2002, he recorded his first album, Clair et net, which placed him in the top ranking finalists of the prestigious General Motors contest at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. In spring 2009, he launched his second album, Pas à pas, with the help of pianist Luc Beaugrand, bassist Frédéric Alarie and drummer Camil Bélisle.