TransCanada ‘69

Review by Brian Carroll
63min | Music | General

ARCHIVED REVIEW FROM FRINGE 2010

Magic is Afoot!

Colin Godbout is a consummate guitarist and able singer who has composed his own innovative arrangements of some well-known (and some not so well-known) songs, tunes, and recordings that were broadcast across Canada in 1969. Well-versed in various styles of guitar — classical, flamenco, fandango, Spanish, samba, jazz, pop and a smattering of raga — Godbout’s innovative interpretations of other artists’ songs are often in genres that differ from the originals. He also produces original compositions based on the music of year.

Jazz musicians often riff on pop standards. Godbout does the same, but uses a variety of musical style to reinterpret at minimum the bridge, if not the entire tune. For example, he refreshingly covers Leonard Cohen’s Bird on a Wire in a swing beat and sets Gordon Lightfoot’s Pussywillows, Cattails to a Spanish flavour.  Or he takes Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock and introduces a classical-style bridge that morphs into a verse called American City (based on the Guess Who’s American Woman) before returning to another verse of Woodstock.

Godbout demonstrates his prowess with two songs by guitar wizard, Lenny Breau: 5 O’Clock Bells and Toronto (Chet Atkins once pronounced Breau “the greatest guitar player in the world”). While Breau’s songs are not as difficult as Godbout’s  jazz stylings of popular tunes, they still require considerable guitar skill. Furthermore, he has written original lyrics and melody for an ode to Lenny Breau, Jazzraga, based on music by Ravi Shankar and John Coltrane (including Coltrane’s collaboration with Miles Davis: So What).

Godbout doesn’t limit himself to music. He interprets Glenn Gould’s radio documentary The Idea of North as an original song that he calls North, with lyrics based on the theme of the documentary and music based on a Bach cantata.  Nor does not restrict himself to 1969. He lyrically performs Spanish pieces previously recorded by Liona Boyd, whose first recording was in 1974.

Figuratively and literally, magic is afoot when Godbout performs in the Mercury Lounge. There is a thin story line of traveling across Canada from east to west that provides Godbout with a pattern to connect the various songs and medleys. It gives him an opportunity to connect with the audience, and warm them up for singing a few select choruses. A set of album covers on a music stand replaces a printed program.

A musical treat that touched the hearts of the audience and exceeded my expectations: get your tickets early before this small venue sells out. Well worth a walk from the beer tent, or a drive from out of town.

TransCanada 69 is playing at Bring Your Own Venue 1 – Mercury Lounge (58 Byward) on Friday June 18 at 9:00pm, Sunday June 20 at 7:15pm, Monday June 21 at 9:00pm, Tuesday June 22 at 7:15pm, Friday June 25 at 5:30pm, Saturday June 26 at 7:00pm and Sunday June 27 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $8 each.