The last time that Coco Montoya played in Montreal (December 2009) he left the bar way up there.  Again, last night he pole vaulted over it leaving the previous bar higher.

While I’d like to say he’s an up and coming blues player, he’s been recording since the eighties when John Mayall first spotted him in a bar and recruited him into the newly re-formed Blues Breakers.

He plays left handed upside down, but he plays chords!  Imagine that Albert Collins recruited him as a drummer than taught him guitar.

Two sizzling sets playing mostly his own tunes.

Only complaint was the emcee introducing him as being taught by the “master of the Stratocaster” himself.  I think the reference should have been made to “the Master of the Telecaster”, Albert Collins.  Has anyone ever been tagged as the Master of the Stratocaster?  Sounds pretentious almost.

Montoya’s career began in the mid-70’s when Albert Collins asked him to join his band as drummer. Collins took Montoya under his wing and taught him his “icy hot” guitar style. The two remained friends even after Montoya left Collins’ band.

In the early 80’s John Mayall heard Montoya playing guitar in a Los Angles bar. Soon after Mayall asked Montoya to join the newly reformed Bluesbreakers. He remained a member of the band for 10 years.

In the early 90’s Montoya decided it was time to go out on his own. He has recorded several highly acclaimed blues CD’s. (thanks to last.fm)

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