We have the legendary guitar player and designer Les Paul to thank for a musician named Torsten Goods appearance in Dottendorf tonight. When the young Torsten Gutknecht was studying music under a scholarship in New York, Paul (whose own real name was actually Lester Polfus), had trouble pronouncing Gutknecht. So ‘Goods’ he became. That Torsten Goods has also become an excellent singer is down to the encouragement of another major music figure – George Benson. That such luminaries took trouble helping the aspiring German musician learn his trade speaks volumes about the potential they saw in the youngster. Here, in front of a packed house at the Dottendorfer Jazznacht, he proved their belief well founded with a seemingly effortless evening of modern Jazz.
Despite doing away with a centre aisle there were still not enough seats to accomodate the people arriving without tickets a half hour before showtime, with late arrivals having to be turned away. I guess there are still those who can’t quite believe that an event at a small civic centre in Dottendorf could attract so many people. But word about the Jazznacht here has got around well beyond Bonn and it now regularly entices musically big fish to its little pond. I’m seated next to a couple who have travelled from Oregon, USA and arranged their holiday around this very concert. I hope they had a chance to enjoy the local attractions – visit the Haribo Factory and buy some chocolates from ‘Hünten. The Jazz stars themselves don’t just come here once either, and this evening sees the fourth appearance by Torsten Goods, who enthusiastically describes the venue as a favourite of his with its trademark low ceiling giving an intimate vibe. I’m sure he also has fond memories of us singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him at a previous appearance.
Goods looks relaxed,as he should after having just returned from a short and sunny holiday in Crete. He claims to be a bit concerned that he might need time to get back into the swing of ‘work’ this evening but it’s obvious after only a minute or so of the opening ‘Island Love’ that his fingers know where to fly on the fretboard runs of his turqouise Hofner guitar. It’s the first of many tracks we will hear tonight from the new ‘Soul Deep’ CD. an album, and indeed a concert this evening, filled with positive vibes delivered via upbeat numbers like ‘Soul Deep’ itself, ‘Rocket girl’ and ‘Life goes on’. His life philosophy as laid out in ‘Life goes on’ seems indeed to echo Winston Churchill’s uplifting famous advice regarding adversity: “If you’re going through Hell just keep going”
When you wake up in a hole, fear is in the air
A thousand thoughts run through your head, just beware
When you wake up in the jungle, Danger all around
No point in slowing down
Keep moving on
Don’t slow down Keep moving on
Visitors to his previous concerts here will have noted that the band this evening is a completely different one from previous visits and indeed from the new disc. The ‘newbies’ have no trouble proving they’re worth though. Not surprising, since with drummer Christian Lettner and bassist Patrick Scales Goods has the rhythm fundament of the legendary Klaus Doldinger’s Passport at his disposal. On keyboard he has another great player in Ferdinand Schwartz who tours regularly in his own right, and has played alongside Herbie Hancock and Nils Landgren. Perhaps his most famous appearance though being as an impromptu keyboard player for Coldplay’s Chris Martin in 2017. The piano/guitar duells that took place between Goods and Schwartz were particularly stand-out moments this evening. The sort of magic that a studio CD will rarely capture – live Jazz as it should be. Top musicians inspiring each other.
Tonight’s set-list was heavily weighted towards the new disc. As expected, there is a good dose of music inspired by the sounds of George Benson and Quincy Jones – ‘Get Yourself Together’ is groove-laden evidence of the latter. If Goods is mainly aknowledged for his Benson inspired guitar runs, it should also be aknowledged that he also has a strong and pure voice reminiscent of Al Jarreau. It came across with particular effect on the quieter ballads of the evening such as ‘Who’s right, who’s wrong’ from the 2023 release ‘Soul Searching’.
Another number from ‘Soul Searching’, ”Learn not to care’, got possibly the loudest applause of the evening with its autobiographical text describing how Goods struggled to come to terms with Alopecia Universalis, the autoimmune condition that strips away all body hair. Interestingly the new CD cover shows Goods looking good without his trademark baseball cap. The cap remains firmly on during his show tonight, but I’m betting it won’t be much longer. Maybe Dottendorf will be where he makes that decision? Certainly the heartfelt applause that comes back from those lucky enough to get in this evening will make him very much aware he’s amongst friends. Signing autographs later someone is taking selfies nearby and calls over “Hey Torsten, schau hier rüber!”. Goods looks up and immediately smiles in their direction. Amongst friends in Dottendorf. Hopefully he will be back for a fifth appearance here, and if so, get your tickets early, the number of friends he has here is selling tickets fast!
