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Guy is supported by Prof. Louis Hurwitz (organ), Christopher James (mandolin, banjo), Mark
Murphy (bass, cello) and Timothy Hill, David Bernz, Guy’s son Martial Davis, Kheeda Cruik-
shank and Madeline Grace (backing vocals). The opening title track, with Guy playing banjo, is
a jaunty(!) murder ballad about a man his family all knew who killed a woman, ‘Kokomo Alley’
is a more conventional country blues and Sam Chatmon’s ‘Who’s Gonna Love You Tonight
(That’s Alright)’ has Guy singing and playing harp.

‘Early in the Morning’ is a lovely original hymn-like song with Hurwitz’s organ and massed
voices and it’s followed by ‘In the Evening Time’ a melodic gentle blues. ‘Little David Play on
Your Harp’ is a gospel song, while ‘Firefly’ is a banjo tune celebrating the ‘lightening bug’ and
‘Long Gone Riley Brown’ has Guy playing Sonny Terry-style harmonica. Guy plays 12-string

guitar on Leadbelly’s ‘Black Snake Moan’ and ‘Laura’ is a song celebrating his paternal grand-
mother and we finish with the original lilting melodic song ‘Don’t Know Where I’m Bound’. As
a teenager in the 60s I was asked by an older blues enthusiast who my favourite blues singer
was, when I said it was Leadbelly he said that in fact he wasn’t a blues singer but a songster!
And I’d have to say that Guy Davis is also a songster – sure he can sing the blues but like
Leadbelly he also sings lighter more folky songs with the emphasis on entertainment. I’ve seen
Guy in a small blues club and he is really excellent live – he starts a British tour in October so
catch him while you can!

Graham Harrison

Colin James—Chasing the Sun—Stony Plain ASIN :
B0D6M67FQL

I can’t believe that Canadian guitarist/singer Colin James isn’t
more well-known in both Britain and the US. For over 30
years he’s been turning out wonderful albums of blues and
roots music and this new one is his 21st. release. The record
is produced by fellow Canadian guitarist Colin Linden who
also plays second guitar alongside Reese Wynans and Janice
Powers (keyboards) as well as Daryl Jones (bass) and Charlie
Drayton (drums) – both Rolling Stones alumni.

We start with Colin’s version of Lucinda Williams’ song ‘Protection’ – wonder what Lucinda
thinks about that? – well she joins Colin on vocals so I guess she’s totally onboard. ‘I’m Still
Alive’ is a melodic slow blues with restrained lead guitar and subdued brass and backing vocals,
while ‘Devilment’ (written by Linden and Canadian harp player Paul Reddick) sees Colin joined
by harp maestro Charlie Musselwhite – it’s an unusual but very catchy song with both great
guitar and harp. Both ‘Crystal Ball’ and ‘How It Feels to Be Loved’ are subtle, melodic ballads in
the Robert Cray style, with the latter having sax from Jim Hoke. ‘Star Studded Sky’ and ‘Too Far
Gone’ are also restrained soul ballads with the latter featuring Michael Hicks on Hammond
organ and Ruby Amanfu on backing vocals.

‘In My Own Dream’ is a cover of an atypical Paul Butterfield song that originally featured
mandolin and here becomes kind of psychedelic folk with layered guitars, reminding me of the
group Pentangle. We eventually step up the pace for ‘This Song Kills Hate’ a U2-style rocker
with chiming guitars and a driving rhythm section and by complete contrast ‘Come to Find Out’