I know I did OK when I find out that someone said "Who is that guy?" or when
there's a audible display of approval after a guitar solo. I got a bit of
both yesterday at my gig at the Sky Restaurant and Lounge in Mississauga. I
was guesting at Jerome Godboo's Sunday Matinee (I believe the Sockman said
it was the 14th edition). Great to play with Chris Burgess, one of the
city's least recognized and most capable guitarists in terms of knowing what
to play and when to play it. He proved the point when the surprise special
guest Elvis Impersonator (did I mention that??) sang Del Shannon's "Runaway"
and Chris was able to pull out the signature organ solo practically note for
note. James Rasmussen is one - solid bass player (I just discovered he plays
on an Album of Nig Dave and the Ultrasonics, one of my all-time favourite
roadhouse-style non-stop touring, tight delivery blues bands). And got to
play with drummer Bob Vezpazini for whom I have such great admiration since
I saw him doing the kind of old school drum acrobatics that I've seen only
in some of the old jazz guys like Jake Hanna and Don Vickery. Layla Zoe was
my co-guest and she really rocks the house and shakes her booty. Layla would
do great on the German circuit where I spent 3 weeks touring with Kathi
MacDonald - who is very much the same style of singer as Layla. Jerome
Godboo is one of the most evolved human beings on the blues scene today and
I've thought that for at least ten years. I never talked to him about it but
I think his natural self-contained spirituality evolved from his original
interest in martial arts. Curious.