Wearing his blues hat, Guy Davis mixes guitar artistry, witty banter

Musician, composer, actor, writer and director Guy Davis was mostly wearing his blues hat for an enthusiastic but sadly sparse audience for his one-man show in the 365-seat auditorium at The Charleston Heights Arts Center.

Far be it from me to speak for the nearly 200 people in attendance Saturday night, but just about anyone stopping in surely would have enjoyed Davis’ self-taught guitar artistry hand in hand with his harmonica and banjo proficiency.

And while he may not be a household name it’s not entirely accurate to call Davis an undiscovered treasure. He’s been on Conan O’Brien’s show as well as Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion.”

From a Singin’ The Blues perspective, we were quickly and comfortably welcomed into Guy’s optimistically world weary — but not world leery — focus as he picked up a dark-shaded careworn 12-string guitar to start a 15-song set of classics, lesser known gems and even a couple of his own compositions.

First up was Robert Wilkins’ “That’s No Way To Get Along,” which proved to be just the opposite: a great way for anyone unfamiliar with Davis to see and hear what he’s got, which includes a healthy supply of witty banter to go along with nimble fingers and a fine been-around-the-block-once-or-twice voice, replete with appropriate accents when needed.

It was back to a traditional six-string guitar for the introduction of a tune by the Southern blues singer/guitarist Ishman Bracey when Davis wryly noted that “Ishman” is the kind of name you give to a kid if you want him to move away before he’s 15.

“Working Man Blues” indeed.

And Guy just kept rattling ’em off: Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked Her For Water (She Brought Me Gasoline),” Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster” (with a little audience participation where we were all briefly barking dogs, howling hounds, or both), and a stirring five-string banjo rendition of Muddy Waters’ “Can’t Be Satisfied” before a return to the guitar for Guy’s own compositions, the “happy blues” “Love Looks Good On You” and the gritty “As Long As You Get It Done” that had the sound and feel of a tune written “back in the day.”

Guy even snuck a little Bob Dylan into the show with “Sweetheart Like You” before amping up the banjo energy on what he described as “not your mammy’s” “Shortnin’ Bread.”

Mmm. With apologies to the Pillsbury Doughboy, nothin’ says lovin’ like somethin’ from the set list of Guy Davis.

Let the record be clear: Davis said nary a word about it, and all publicity material associated with his concert never brought it up, but it’s worth noting his pedigree while reinforcing that he’s long been out there on his own, far from Mom and Dad’s coattails: Guy is the son of acclaimed actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

And I must credit a fellow reviewer (Tony Peyser of the “Santa Monica Mirror”) for this clever line about the family: this talent apple didn’t fall far from the tree, but did land in a different orchard.

Following a pleasant night of well-honed talent presenting an entertaining mix of old-school music and down-to-earth showbiz polish, Davis’ fans old and new alike would hardly disagree.