Guitarist Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser is no stranger to those
who've been paying attention to the West Coast blues scene over the last
two decades. Born in Paris, France in 1960, his initial blues
inspiration came from Hound Dog Taylor's "NATURAL BOOGIE" LP. After
working his first professional gig at age 21 supporting visiting U.S.
bluesman Sonny Rhodes, Rhodes invited him to move to the San Francisco
Bay Area. With the commitment of a true believer, Franck packed his bags
and moved to the Bay Area within a year, whereupon he was immediately
hired by Troyce Key (who gave him the stage name of
Paris Slim) to play
in the house band at Key's legendary Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland.
He
eventually assumed leadership of the group while Key took a professional
hiatus, and became deeply immersed in the area's then-vibrant blues
scene. He racked up three years touring with
Jimmy McCracklin, as well
as positive reviews for appearances at most of the prominent local
venues with a distinguished roster of blues talent including
Lowell
Fulson, Percy Mayfield and
Charlie Musselwhite. Four years after his
first single was issued in 1984 on San Francisco's Backtrack label, his
CD debut "BLUES FOR ESTHER" appeared, a strong outing which received a
nomination from the prestigious W.C. Handy Awards Its follow-up,
"BLEEDIN' HEART", was co-produced with
Joe Louis Walker, who guested
along with Sonny Rhodes. An ongoing list of other sessions and frequent
European touring (most prolifically as part of the Fedora Records house
band behind Clay Hammond, Jimmy Dawkins,
Homesick James and others)
followed. Relocating to Southern California in 1998, he became a fixture
on the vibrant L.A. blues scene, and continued to absorb new influences
and hone his art. His recent CD "BLUJU" was produced by Randy Chortkoff,
and has garnered acclaim as one of the most progressive blues releases
in years while still remaining firmly rooted in the blues tradition. His
association with Chortkoff led to a spot as regularly featured guitarist
in the rotating cast of The Mannish Boys both in the studio and on the
road.