Frank GOLDWASSER

 FRANK GOLDWASSER 

(Frank 'Paris Slim' Goldwasser)

DISCOGRAPHY 1989-2023 (9CD)

 BIOGRAPHY 

Born in Paris in 1960, Frank Goldwasser learned to play the guitar on his own at the age of 16, drawing inspiration from the music of Elmore James, T-Bone Walker and BB King. In 1980, while studying painting at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, he met Californian bluesman Sonny Rhodes, who was touring France. After a concert given together in Reims, Rhodes takes Goldwasser under his wing and invites him to join him in San Francisco in order to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician.

The following year, the young guitarist abandoned his studies to emigrate to the United States. Living with a cousin in Oakland, it was first with the Troyce Key group that he found a job. Prime position, since the apprentice bluesman will have the opportunity to accompany several of his heroes, big stars of the West Coast blues: Percy Mayfield, Big Mama Thornton, Jimmy McCracklin, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton.

Called “Paris Slim” by local musicians, Frank Goldwasser started his first group in 1984, with which he hosted the weekends at the Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland. Leader of the “house-band”, he hires and accompanies local stars, including Ron Thompson, Elvin Bishop, Nick Gravenites, Eddie Ray and Joe Louis Walker. Noticed by the legendary Charlie Musselwhite, he took his place in the harmonica group where he would reside for almost a year.

Frank Goldwasser recorded his first record in December 1984. The forty-five tour quickly featured in the jukeboxing of many local clubs, and the reputation of the young French guitarist grew. Journalist Lee Hildebrand will write in the pages of the weekly East Bay Express: "Goldwasser is the most impressive young blues guitarist the region has produced in a long time."

In 1986, Goldwasser appeared at the San Francisco Blues Festival, then toured with Mitch Woods and the Rocket 88's across the United States. A debut album, “Blues For Esther,” was nominated for the prestigious WC Handy Awards in 1989. That same year, Frank was called upon by his friend Nick Gravenites to replace Mike Bloomfield for several concerts at a historic Electric Flag reunion.

He accompanies the Chicago bluesmen Sunnyland Slim and AC Reed on their visit to the West Coast, then takes part in numerous recording sessions, with among others the harmonica player-singer Mark Hummel, Billy Dunn, Byther Smith, Johnny Nitro and Mississippi Johnny Waters. Goldwasser toured in Europe in the early 90s. His group accompanies Phillip Walker and Joe Houston during the Albi festival in 1993. The French journalist Jacques Périn will write in the musical monthly Soul Bag: “With a skin-deep sensitivity and a deep knowledge of his subject, Frank Goldwasser is a of the best blues guitarists of his generation ”.

Between 1993 and 1998, Goldwasser continued to scour clubs in the San Francisco area and participated in festivals in Portland (Oregon), Sacramento (with Phillip Walker), and Oakland. A second album, “Bleedin’ Heart ”, is produced by Joe Louis Walker and released by the Globe label. In 1998, he appeared on the album “Mountain Top West Coast Blues Summit” with harmonica player Gary Smith. In the meantime, he will have collaborated on two albums by his friend Benoît Blue Boy, “Couvert De Bleus” (1994) and “Lent Ou Rapide” (1997).

Living in Santa Barbara since 1999, Frank has participated in several albums for the Fedora label, including those of Fillmore Slim, Hosea Leavy and Harmonica Slim, Riler ”Iceman” Robinson and Tommy Bankhead. In 1999 and 2000, he toured Europe with JJ Malone, Clay Hammond, Fillmore Slim, Little Arthur Duncan and Iceman Robinson. In summer 2001, Goldwasser accompanied Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins and Rusty Zinn at the Seattle (Washington) festival.

In the Los Angeles area, Frank plays regularly in clubs (Cozy’s, Yesteryears) with harmonica singers Kim Wilson and R.J. Mischo. Frank took part in the making of an album with Mischo, as well as with the legendary singer-guitarist of Chicago Jimmy Dawkins, whose release was followed by a tour in the spring of 2002. In the fall of the same year, Goldwasser accompanied the singer. Chicago harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold for a West Coast concert series.

At the end of 2003, a new production recorded in Los Angeles was released on the German label Crosscut. JJ Malone and Phillip Walker take part, among others. During 2004 the live recorded at the Lucerne Festival in the fall of 2003 with his Super Down Home Trio will be released on Cosscut as well. As well as an album recorded with Finis Tasbee on vocals and Kirk Fletcher on guitar.