Jim Byrnes played the Music School in Pender Harbour Jan. 12, after a hectic year and some scheduling snags, but nobody minded: he was worth the wait. As he picked up his guitar, time and travels fell away, and he morphed from weary pilgrim into consummate performer, with Paul Pigat, (Byrnes' "secret weapon") on acoustic guitar, at his side. The evening was a total delight and surprise for those who have followed Byrnes in the past. The venue was not a bar or dance hall, but a small concert setting, the audience close enough to touch, and his love for music did just that. He became a sly Southern storyteller, knowledgeable blues historian and a musician for the captivated crowd. Before Saturday, Byrnes and Pigat had played only six gigs together, so the first set saw them learning more about each other. Byrnes' whisky-rich voice came from a mature, deep down place, confident and genuine, lamenting and beseeching its way from the 20s to the 60s. His guitar playing is legend: crying, caressing, demanding, cool and passionate. He did not disappoint. Pigat dazzled during his guitar breaks, maturing as the evening progressed to a simpler, stronger sound that, by set two, sounded like he'd been at Byrnes' side for decades. When they did Muddy Waters' "I Feel Like Going Home" followed by his "Can't Be Satisfied" (taught to Byrnes by Waters), both on acoustic, both using slides, they brought Muddy right onto the stage, true and straight. Close your eyes, it was 1952. Byrnes' gospel song "Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?" based on the 27th Psalm and inspired by the people in Lithuania he met while filming there gave a glimpse of the strong spiritual beliefs that have kept him going. The song has become the anthem for the Paralympics.
The encore was another surprise that perfectly fit the intimacy of evening: a touching tribute to the 60-year love of Byrnes' parents, Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust." Byrnes set his guitar down and sang with tenderness, tears in his eyes and hands in his lap, accompanied by Pigat's gently singing guitar - magic.
