It’s the night before taxes are due, so you might as well get blue. Or, in this
case, bleu.

Frenchman Franck Goldwasser, known in the blues world as Paris Slim, will be
on the stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, April 14, at The Skyway in
Zigzag.

The international recording artist will be accompanied by Jim Wallace on blues
harp, three-time winner (2010 to 2012) of CBA’s award for best harmonica.

“It’s our privilege to bring this big-time show to tiny Zigzag,” said Skyway
owner Tom Baker. “Come on out and see the ‘French ambassador of American
Blues’ (Vintage Guitar Magazine). It will only cost you five bucks for some
genuine West Coast blues.”

Slim was born in Paris, France in 1960 and was inspired at an early age by
Hound Dog Taylor’s “Natural Boogie” LP. He worked his first professional gig
at 21 in support of visiting American bluesman Sonny Rhodes, who invited
Slim to move to the San Francisco Bay Area – which served to launch his West
Coast career.

He was immediately hired by Troyce Key (who dubbed Goldwasser “Paris
Slim”) to play at Key’s legendary Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland.

Slim eventually took over the reins of the group while Key took a professional
hiatus, and became deeply immersed in the area’s vibrant blues scene. He

racked up three years touring with Jimmy McCracklin, and also made well-
accepted appearances at most of the prominent venues with a distinguished
roster of blues talent including Charlie Musselwhite, Percy Mayfield and Lowell
Fulson.

Four years after Slim’s first single was released 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. His
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 tours followed as part
of the Fedora Records house band behind Clay Hammond, Jimmy Dawkins and
Homesick James.

Slim relocated to southern California in 1998 and immediately became a
fixture on the vibrant L.A. blues scene, and continued to absorb new
influences and hone his art.

His latest CD “Bluju” was produced by Randy Chortkoff, and has garnered
acclaim as one of the most progressive blues releases in years while
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.