Cordoba Bay Records artist: David Gogo - Christmas With The Blues - New release review

I just received the new David Gogo release, Christmas With The Blues, and it's really cool. Unlike many seasonal recordings where it's mostly campy redo's of traditional tracks, Gogo sets a new table with blues tracks about Christmas. Now this isn't a new concept, but one that I rarely see. This is a cd that for the most part doesn't have every familiar Christmas melody. The recording opens with a Canned Heat number, Christmas Blues. This track is given a traditional blues take and has hot guitar riffs from Gogo as well as some cool piano from David Vest. Christmas on The Bayou, a Gogo original is a funky, smokey blues jam with interlaced harp, bass, solo guitar and percussion with a spoken track over the mix. Christmas Tears is right out of the Freddie King song book and Gogo does an exemplary job on this track both with vocal and stinging guitar retort. Another Gogo original, Let's Get a Real Tree takes a Chuck Berry approach along the lines of Run Run Rudolph with some flaring rock n roll riffs. Charles Brown classic Please Come Home For Christmas gets a straight up cover with some really smooth sax work from Phil Dwyer. Gogo, sings a cool rendition of this track and lays down a nice complimentary light but tight solo. A Lieber and Stoller track, Santa Claus Is Back In Town, gets a real super blues rub and Gogo shows why he is one of the highest respected blues guitarists in the north! This is a smoker! Merry Christmas Baby, a R&B classic gets a pure R&B treatment but with a strong dose of Gogo on guitar. David has a great hand and doesn't overplay but squeezes just the right amount of blues from his instrument. The recording is completed with Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin', a Sir Mack Rice track previously recorded by Freddie King. Gogo gives it a different twist with some more adventurous soloing but keeping with the funky rhythm. This is a cd that if you want blues music any time during the year, this will work. The guitar and playing is that strong. Now if you need to hear the words and sing along...it's a seasonal recording and one that will keep the blues flowing.

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This video is not from the cd but none were available so if you are unfamiliar with Gogo's work...here's a taste! 

 

Hoochie Coochie Man - David Gogo

David Gogo (born March 18, 1969), is a Canadian blues guitarist who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay Records label.



David Gogo is the cousin of Trooper keyboardist Paul Gogo.



Gogo was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and received his first guitar at the age of five. At the age of 15, he met Stevie Ray Vaughan backstage at the Royal Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia and was encouraged by the blues legend to pursue a career in blues. By the age of 16, he was getting regular work as a musician. Gogo formed a band called The Persuaders, which eventually opened for blues performers such as Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and Albert Collins. After a European tour supporting The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Gogo signed a solo record deal with EMI Records.[2] He soon after performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival with the likes of B.B. King, Otis Rush and Blues Traveler. He also guested on Tom Cochrane's Mad Mad World album while working on material for his upcoming debut album.

Dust My Broom - David Gogo

David Gogo (born March 18, 1969), is a Canadian blues guitarist who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay Records label.
Gogo was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and received his first guitar at the age of five. By the age of 16, he was getting regular work as a musician. Gogo formed a band called The Persuaders, which eventually opened for blues performers such as Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and Albert Collins. After performing in Europe, Gogo signed a solo record deal with EMI Records.

His albums have included Dine Under the Stars, Change of Pace, Bare Bones, "Halfway to Memphis", "Live At Deer Lake", Skeleton Key, "Vibe" and "Acoustic". He appeared as a guest musician on Tom Cochrane's album Mad Mad World, Bob Walsh's album "Bob Walsh Live – A Canadian Blues Rendez-Vous" and others. His "Acoustic" album, released in 2006, was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award. He is a two-time Maple Blues Award winner.

David Gogo is the cousin of Trooper keyboardist Paul Gogo.

Louisiana Blues - David Gogo

David Gogo (born March 18, 1969), is a Canadian blues guitarist who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay label.
Gogo was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and received his first guitar at the age of five. By the age of 16, he was getting regular work as a musician. Gogo formed a band called The Persuaders, which eventually opened for blues performers such as Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and Albert Collins. After performing in Europe, Gogo signed a solo record deal with EMI Records.

His albums have included Dine Under the Stars, Change of Pace, Bare Bones, "Halfway to Memphis", "Live At Deer Lake", Skeleton Key, "Vibe" and "Acoustic". He appeared as a guest musician on Tom Cochrane's album Mad Mad World, Bob Walsh's album "Bob Walsh Live – A Canadian Blues Rendez-Vous" and others. His "Acoustic" album, released in 2006, was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award. He is a two-time Maple Blues Award winner.

David Gogo is the cousin of Trooper keyboardist Paul Gogo.

New Release from David Gogo - Soul Bender - Review

Been waiting to listen to this new cd since it was first announced. I've only recently become acquainted with Davids work and really like his sound. This recording is made up of 10 songs, a number of them written by Gogo. The opening track, Please Find My Baby, is an old Elmore James tune and really comes on strong. Track 2, Slow it Down, demonstrates the bands tight feel as they play Texas style but without overplaying the "modern" cliche guitar riffs. The 4th track on the cd, Time Is Killing Me, is nicely a written original and has a haunting quality to both melody and his unique playing. Track 5, a cover of Wilson Pickett's I Found A Love, is nicely handled and shows some tasty soloing. Track 6, the cover of the Doors "Changling" is nicely done but Gogo doesn't take the chance to take it over the top with his soloing. I'm sure this will play out nicely in concert. Track 9, Do You Know How It Feels, another Gogo original is a good strong rocker and will keep you moving. I'm sure it will again play out very nicely in concert. The final track, Whiskey Train, has a nice gritty sound and Gogo does take some time with a little experimental interlude at the end which is pretty nice. I know I'm old but do they still sell cowbells for drummers?

Overall the cd is fairly consistent although I haven't been able to find David's unique signature on this cd so that I would be able to pick his individual playing out anywhere.The cd shows a real solid effort and I'm certain that new and existing fans will not be disappointed.

Highway 61

David's got a new cd coming out. Watch for the news!!

Dust My Broom

I think that every slide player who ever played the blues learned how from studying Elmore James. Here's one of Elmore's classics. David Gogo is doing a great job of burning up the wire out there. If you get a chance to see him... take the opportunity.

It's a Mans World

Although still relatively young in "blues years", David Gogo has accomplished much in his career. So far he has three Juno nominations, was named Musician of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, was twice named Guitarist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards, and has been bestowed with the CBC Saturday Night Blues, Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada.

Nine albums have been released under his name and he has been a guest on a number of other artists recordings. David has composed music for television and major motion pictures and his songs have been performed and recorded by various musicians worldwide.

Whether he’s showcasing his blistering guitar licks and soulful vocals during his electric performances or drawing the crowd in with his humour and down-to-earth personality during his acoustic shows, audiences throughout North America, Europe, and Scandinavia can attest to his outstanding talent.

This is David Gogo's take on James Browns tune. I think that he does a beautiful job on it. Better step up while you have the chance...