Flyin' Blind

[lighthead2toe]

Following the very wonderful experience of an extended afternoon invitation to visit and play a few tunes with the very talented Paul Bartlett after things had settled down following the Massey shows, my hand went into the bowel of thirst looking for the Red Shea sound in my collection of Gord's material. Paul is a student of Red and he's the guy playing the lead guitar in the pub video. Unfortunately we didn't have a sound person with us to balance things out in the pub and Paul's guitar seemed a tad low and it was just a pot luck thing anyway. But that afternoon was a most pleasurable experience and to have an opportunity to be complimented by such a refined guitarist and perfect gentleman was a wonderful way to wind things down after such a memorable occasion. But I took particular note on the "Harmony" recording of "Flyin' Blind" not only because Red Shea plays the lead guitar on that tune but also Gord is listed as the playing the synthesizer. I love the tune, so Paul if you read this when we get together again, I'd like to give that one a shot my friend. Cheers, Ron.

[jj]

thanks for sharing, ron...it was only near end of the jam (and my pint) that I really settled, lent a keen ear and took in Paul's wonderful work (The Last Time and so many other latter gems)

ahh...sounds like a great, great time, a close knit jam...Kenyon would have loved to be with you two, as would I, and he would be playing along and making notes I'm sure, whereas I would be discreetly taping...next time

I had a great chat at Shuter/Yonge with your ol' chum and other talented Paul (there are so many cool Pauls!) as we bid farewell after the Satuday concert...we were both worried about coming through with last minute gifts for mother's day, lol

if you're in touch with PaulB, please pass along my sympathies to him regarding the loss of a dear mentor...I envision you busking out a tribute set o'er the Pacific paying homage to Red

may the Lord above guide him home, safely...especially soundly...

[charlene]

If you are in TO and get together with Paul, as I've already told him, I want to be there!!
My sympathies to Paul as well. I know how much he respected and admired Red..

[lighthead2toe]

These is some irony here that I would like to mention regarding the visit with Paul. For many years I wanted to know just what it was that Red Shea was doing on the guitar in "Song For A Winter's Night." I could never figure it out and when I heard that Red was giving lessons I was looking forward to the day when I would ask him to take me on as a student only to learn how he made that sound work. I'm clearly not a lead guitar person and that's really all I wanted to learn how to play. In the meantime of course having connected with Paul, and he being a student of the master showed me how it was done. I wasn't sure if I could really pull it off and this weird feeling of failure cast it's shroud over me and when I came back to Vancouver I left it alone. The irony being when the time had come and the shroud disappeared I picked up the guitar to give it a shot it flawlessly made it's way through. Totally mesmerizing. That was was the same day we lost Red Shea. All very sad. So today the capo will be on the seventh fret in the "D" position and I'm going to take that baby on. This one's for you Red. RJ.

[lighthead2toe]

Originally Posted by charlene

If you are in TO and get together with Paul, as I've already told him, I want to be there!!
My sympathies to Paul as well. I know how much he respected and admired Red..

Char, We will be back in TO in August and I've spoken to Paul about a get together at that time as well. Will touch base as the dates approach. A tribute to Red. RJ.