Phil Guy & Colin John Band - Avignon Blues Festival
Phil Guy, Colin John Band & Mojo Buford Band - Blues Station, Tournon

October 2002

One of the pleasant surprises of the year is to see the renaissance of both Phil Guy and the reformation of Colin John

While Phil is putting all his years of experience and touring into his new-found alliance with Colin, the Ohio based Colin John has found the perfect foil for his superb guitar playing.

Opening on Dobro with guest Finnish harp player "The Ice Cream Man", Colin immediately impressed with some steely licks, and fine slide. The CJ Band followed with the impressive Steve Pellegrino on bass and "Youngblood" Laurent Mounier on drums. Colin's own funky blues "Undercover" and the rockin "Birds Nest on the Ground" were notably highlights full of beefy toned notes and well-crafted dynamics.

Phil made his showbiz entrance to tumultuous applause, and brilliantly held centre stage.

Forever smiling, and adding delicate vibrato and sustain, here indeed was the man who reputedly gave Robert Cray his tone. Never hurried, but always with a sense of occasion, Phil mixed some fine outings from his "Say What You Mean" album.

"Last of the Blues Singers" proved to be as impressive as it was poignant, and "Lonesome Blues" was equally impressive.

The whole house was on its feet for an extended finale, comprising The Stones' "Miss You" - a kind of extended jam with 9 musicians on stage - and an impromptu "Funky Booty" rap from Phil.

Tournon saw equally enthusiastic crowd scenes, with the notable highlight of Phil's old buddy Mojo Buford adding gritty harp to a two number encore - a case of a little Chicago magic in a mediaeval outpost of Lot Garonne, France

Pete Feenstra - Soundcheck magazine