Durante cuatro décadas Morgan Davis ha estado en la carretera viajando por Canadá, Estados Unidos y Europa. Sus actuaciones se extraen de una rica tradición de country blues, así como sus propias canciones contemporáneas, salteadas con ingenio y una buena dosis de humor.
Originario de Detroit, Davis creció escuchando una mezcla prolífica de rhythm and blues. La música de Jimmy Reed , Ike y Tina Turner, Chuck Berry y Fats Domino estaba en el aire. Más tarde se mudó a California con su familia, y luego en 1968 fue a Canadá.
Durante su estancia en la universidad Rochdale, meca de Toronto para la subcultura de finales de 1960, se sumergió en el estudio del Delta Blues, especialmente la música de Robert Johnson . Bukka White , Shines Johnny , Sunnyland Slim , Snooky Pryor , Hubert Sumlin , y John Hammond fueron alentadores partidarios.
Davis salió a la carretera con los Rhythm Rockets, Mystic Knights of the Sea y David Wilcox.
A través de los años ha tenido el apoyo de Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, John Hammond, Albert Collins y Eric Bibb. Un punto culminante de su carrera fue el Dr. John. Morgan ha compartido el escenario con Colin Linden, quien también produjo su segundo álbum, compartió el escenario con James Cotton, Sumlin Huber, Slim Sunnyland, Snooky Prior, James Harmon, Gene Taylor, Dutch Mason, Gene Taylor, Foley Sue, Bonneville Ray, Carlos DelJunco y muchos otros artistas de blues de los años.
Davis ha establecido una carrera rica como artista en solitario, y también la lleva a cabo con las alineaciones estelares de músicos, como un trío o banda completa.
"Drive My Blues Away es su primer disco en solitario. Su anterior disco "At Home In Nova Scotia", rinde homenaje a la costa atlántica de Canadá, donde ha residido desde 2001.
This album began to take shape in the winter of 2012. While auditioning a number of live recordings I had not yet listened to, I came across a tape made on December 9, 2000 at a club called “Chicago's” on Queen Street - now long gone. It was the last gig I played as a resident of Toronto. We had emptied the house, packed the U-Haul and were ready to leave for Nova Scotia the next day. Many long-time friends and musicianers attended the show, and I was happy, excited, and blissfully unaware of the tape rolling, which resulted in a loose, relaxed night of fun. Unfortunately, a huge snowstorm prevented our departure the following day, and while parked overnight, my van was broken into and eight guitars were stolen, leaving me with one - “Old Red” - my trusty Supro.
This recording documents the last night I played with “Old Tan” – my 1957 Fender Duo-Sonic which had served me well for almost 30 years. The Toronto Blues Society and the blues community came together and staged a benefit which resulted in the acquisition of a guitar made by my friend Joe Yanuziello. It is my main instrument today and was used for the studio part of this record. I chose six songs from the live recording, then booked a day at The Rogue Studios in Toronto and recorded eight new tracks. My old pal David Wilcox was happy to play when I invited him down - until that day in the studio, we had not played together for 37 years ! Colin Linden continues to be a great friend and supporter, and I was so glad he could whup some guitar on my tribute to Hubert Sumlin, as Colin and I share a long history of love for the Howlin' Wolf's music.
So… this disc has some new original songs, as well as a glimpse into a typical night of live performance, graced by a couple of old friends who sat in…. I hope you enjoy it.
Morgan
1. I Got My Own
2. Drive My Blues Away
3. Now That Hubert Is Gone
4. Heat Wave In Alberta
5. Too Much Competition
6. Camellia Grill
7. Wake Up!
8. Wha' Do Dat Do-Dad Do
9. Relaxin' At The Club
10. Telegraph Sex
11. That's Why
12. Rosalee
13. Cardova
14. Somnambulatin' Mama
15. Help Me
16. Front Door Blues
Morgan Davis - Guitar, 3 string cigar-box guitar, vocals
Alec Fraser - Bass (tracks 1-8), background vocals (tracks 5, 6 and 8)
Mark Mariash - Drums
David Wilcox - Slide guitar (tracks 4, 8), acoustic guitar (track 5), background vocals (track 8)
Colin Linden - Guitar (track 3)
Lance Anderson - Piano (track 6)
Samantha Martin - Background vocals (track 8)
Al Lerman - Harmonica (tracks 3, 15)
Al Duffy - Bass (tracks 9-14)
Terry Wilkins - Bass (track 15)
Tracks 1-8 recorded at The Rogue Studios, Toronto, Ontario - October 15, 2013 - Engineer James Paul
Tracks 9-15 recorded live at Chicago's, Toronto, Ontario - December 9, 2000 - Engineer Keith Mariash
Track 16 recorded at Liquid Toronto - December 9, 2013 - Engineer Alec Fraser
Mixed by Alec Fraser at Liquid, Toronto
Cover portrait by Peter Barss
Inside photography by Steve Rasmussen
Design by Bruce Greenaway
Produced by Morgan Davis and Alec Fraser
