Around the World in 40 Songs

Cross six continents on the six strings of Colin Godbout’s global guitar.  From the land of the rising sun to the new world his global guitar trek takes in Japanese and Russian folk songs, an Indian raga and a Swedish rhapsody, a Londonderry air and a French chanson, Australian and Austrian waltzes, South African and West Indian melodies, a Bolivian lambada and a Brazilian samba, a New World symphonic theme and a Canadian hymn to freedom. 

Godbout uses innovative guitar techniques to imitate exotic instruments.  He mimics the sound of a Japanese shamisen by scraping his strings with his fingernail, mimics the sound of an Indian sitar by weaving tin foil between his strings, mimics the sound of an African kalimba by weaving paper between his strings a la Lionel Loueke, mimics the sound of a Brazilian berimbau by pinching his strings together a la Roland Dyens, and mimics the sound of Trinidadian steel drums by weaving a plastic straw between his strings a la Martin Taylor (influenced by Ralph Towner's matchbook).  You’ll be transported around the world without leaving your seat!

"Godbout takes you on a tour of world songs from fluttering Japanese ballads, East Indian plucks (he modifies his guitar
with tin foil to simulate a sitar buzz), Russian gypsy songs, and Scottish folk tunes.  Settle down for some captivatingly skilled
acoustic guitarwork [as] he scrapes, slaps, and flicks the strings with dizzying speed, and the styles blend together seamlessly.
Godbout sees the wonder and harmony in the world...and he plays guitar like a Buddhist god."  Fast Forward Weekly, Calgary

Fri. July 30 – Sat. Aug 7; 7-8 pm nightly.

Nectar Desserts, 1216 9th Ave., SE, Second Floor; 403-263-8486

Tickets: $10    Tickets and information: Calgary Fringe Festival.  Sunbuzz   Heraldbuzz#10  

Click to hear Colin's arrangement of a Polish Mazurka; click below to hear a Spanish tango medley and a Parisian medley.

Colin describes the genesis of Around the World in 40 Songs:

Last winter a couple in Victoria requested a house concert with a world music theme and I came up with Around the World in Twenty Songs, playing on the title of a classic adventure story.  The number of songs has since doubled, among them new originals: One Hand Clapping sets a Zen koan to a Japanese folk melody, Butterfly Effect sets a Taoist proverb to a Chinese melody, Tin Sitar is based on a Hindustani melody, Kalimba sets a Zimbabwean proverb to music evoking an African thumb piano, and the last song, Love Turns the World Around, sets an optimistic lyric to a samba rhythm.  Participation in my global guitar trek can deepen appreciation for other cultures and inspire hope for their harmonious coexistence. 

Global Guitar Thoughts:

My Blue Danube Waltz set to a reggae beat is the product of an imaginary Austro-Rastafarian Empire jointly ruled by
Franz Joseph and Haile Selassie, where decomposers Johann Strauss and Bob Marley jam.

Paul McCartney asked: "Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony on my piano keyboard: why don't we?
Translating this sentiment to the form of the guitar may give me the chorus of a new song:
Hear my six strings sound a chord; see six continents in the world -
Can they live in one accord with their flags like strings unfurled? 

Hear globally, strum locally.