FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
Guitar Mania
Until August 31
Kaos Jazz and Blues BistroSeven guys. And they all have great axes.
Welcome to Guitar Mania the monster truck drive of all Calgary jam sessions, guaranteed to kick the sax out of the sometimes subdued Kaos Jazz and Blues Bistro. And also guaranteed to have guitar-heads rushing the stage in droves to talk at length about gear. ("What kinda amp is that, dude? It's wicked. What kinda pedal is that, dude? It's wicked. You play wicked. I wish I was wicked.")
But with a lineup like this, it won't be difficult to be dazzled by the gear and the guys playing it. From Wednesday to Sunday audiences can hear the Western Canadian cream of the crop - Russ Broom, Lestor Quitzau, Amos Garret, Jack Semple, Tim Williams, Bill Johnson and Ray Montana play anything that comes to mind during a long-awaited game of musical chairs.
"It's a celebration of the guitar," says Montana who also organized the event. "I'm just happier than shit to sit back and watch these guys play. No one knows what to expect from the wide open jams, I just know it's going to be so musical."
Montana, a self-described "road brat," started touring at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Although he has played his fair share of country guitar during the past 15 years (including a tour with Waylon Jennings), Montana still keeps his playing diverse, dabbling in everything from soul to zydeco. It's the same diversity, he says, that audiences can expect from the group of musicians he rounded up for the event.
"They're all used to playing a little bit of everything. You have to in this business. I mean, blues is probably going to be the catalyst of it all. But blues is the catalyst of everything, so it makes sense to me," he laughs.
The idea came to Montana years ago, but was never developed until now due to a hectic touring schedule. All the pickers and strummers chosen for the mini-fest have played together in some form over the years. He and (Regina guitar favorite) Jack Semple have been jamming together since the early '70s and promise to rekindle the old amp light for long time fans. But Montana insists the venue is not a guitar competition - it's a special occasion.
"These players are too mature to compete. They're too musical; no one will be stepping on anyone's toes. With the exception of the young Russ Broom - who is one of the most talented guitar players I've ever heard for any age - everyone's been playing for over 20 years. And they all have big, big ears."
Montana expects Guitar Mania will be attractive to both players and non-players alike. The guitar, he argues, is an instrument that reaches all people.
"Everyone gets a guitar when they're seven years old. They tune them, learn their first three chords. And then they just do it or they don't."
These guys did it. And then some.
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