As you walk downtown St. John's you might be privileged enough to hear a faint sound in between the usual Irish ballads and traditional Newfoundland songs that we grew up listening to and love. If your lucky enough you may be able to hear a sound from the deep south coming out of the Fat Cat. Its the sound of legendary blues musicians Scott Goudie and Denis Parker. The two of them are engulfed in the blues, setting the guitar on fire. They have been playing the blues for years and are world renowned for their talent and reputation in the blues community. They have knocked elbows with greats such as Albert King, Muddy Waters, Bukka White, Skip James, etc. I was extremely fortunate to have discussions with Denis and Scott after meeting them at The Pub where they established as a great watering hole after a performance the both of them had at the Garrick Theater. I only wish I had a better setting for a conversation than at work where when someone wanted a drink I had to rush away and grab what that person wanted, being the bartender obviously it was my job but it made for quick conversations and bits and pieces of experiences they both had. At first meeting Scott he handed me a signed copy of his new album Acoustic Live, hearing that I was a blues enthusiast he was more than happy to give me the album.
Out of any genre of music I have to say the blues strikes me as the purist, truest, calming music there is. It gives fullness to the soul, you can hear a blues song written by someone who is not in it for the money or the fame. He writes it cause its his expression of himself. He takes a guitar or harmonica and plays a song that sounds so simple but no one can play it like he played it cause its his song/soul. That is why the blues is so hard to play, because you can't just strum the chords and sing the song, you really have to feel it and make the audience feel it as well which is sometimes the hardest thing to do. On this album Acoustic Live Scott Goudie makes you feel it, his guitar work is second to none. He has flawless guitar picking on his spanish style guitar work on Santana's El Farol and his own song Renata is simply wonderful, I can hear influences from Santana and Carlos Montoya in the song. His renditions of the late great Robert Johnson song's Preachin' Blues, Love In Vain, and Last Fair Deal are a sure testament to his talent and understanding of true blues purists, not alot of people can take Jonhsons songs and make it their own, The Stones overdid it with Love In Vain in the 60s with Jaggers wine being a little too much, but here Goudie gave proved that he was one of the greatest slide guitarist alive today. Elmose James' Yonders Wall is a showcase to his slide guitar work. You can also hear a tad bit of influence of Leo Kottke and Ry Cooder on songs like Louise (Leo Kottke's version i've been listening to for years and can't get enough of), Blind Willie Mctell's Delhia, and The Rolling Stones No Expectations. Probably the most stunning and favorite song of mine on the album probably because I never heard it before was Tony Joe White's Rainy Night In Georgia which is a mixture of blues and soul, a fine mixture indeed. I can't say enough good things about this album and if your a true blues fan like I am there's no way you can not like this well put together live performances of Scott Goudie's great acoustic work. Hes a treasure to Newfoundland performers and I am happy and privileged to have met the man. So now alongside my Skip James, Rev. Gary Davis, Bukka White, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson and Howlin Wolf albums there now sits Scott Goudie with his head held high.
