CHIAROSCURO

Dave Conant and the D-rangers

CD Review by Diane Wells

Diane Wells is a Canadian blues and rock critic with roots in the days of Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin, et. al. Check her web site at http://www.geocities.com/ddrocker/ -Ed.

When I received this sensational CD from Right Now Records (Seattle, Washington) in late November, I gave it a quick listen and was absolutely floored by it! For reasons disclosed further on, I was unable to listen to it again until now.

This fascinating musician has been playing in and around the Washington area for the past couple of decades or so, but for some unfathomable reason was unable to garner the major media attention that would have secured him the superstar status he so obviously deserved. I imagine this is where the title theme comes in - a shining light eclipsed by darkness.

Being a huge fan of acoustic slide guitar playing in all its diverse facets, I was once again delighted to discover another master of this instrument! On an even par with the likes of the late, great guitar legends Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duane Allman and Jimi Hendrix, Dave Conant also displays his virtuosity on electric guitar, especially on his psychedelically heavy “I’ve Been Stoned Since 1969". Out of the 12 tracks, 8 are Dave’s own masterpieces, with the exception of a collaboration with Bill Freckleton (cutting a groove on bass guitar throughout the CD) on “God Forsaken Blues”.

His unbelievable covers of A. Luendrew’s “Highway 61”, Elmore (Oh, Yah!) James’ “Done Somebody Wrong” and Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones’ “Things I Used to Do” let loose the sexiest slide maneuvering north of Mississippi! Dave rocks the blues on K. Field’s “All These Little Things” and then knocks our socks off with a seemingly Ry Cooder-influenced “Welcome to Van Zant”, a classically-favored slide instrumental of his own. There is even a swing instrumental capping things off, appropriately entitled “Thriller”.

With a voice and hands custom-made for the blues, Dave’s recordings are given just the right metronomic balance with Jim Plano and, subsequently, Chris Leighton on drums. In fact, the CD was faultlessly produced by Dave Conant’s D-Rangers themselves.

Incredibly, Chiaroscuro has become Dave Conant’s swansong as, mere days after receiving this CD, I learned that he had passed away. I never knew you personally, Dave, but your musical spirit will live on in my heart. Rest in peace, at “Home in the Blues”.