Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 13/05) - It's hard to leave a place you love. It's even harder to leave a place that loves you.

Six years ago, Winnipeg guitarist Charles Nabess came up to Yellowknife for a three-week gig at the Gold Range. He's going home this month.

Charles Nabess is playing the last week of a six-year gig at the Gold Range. His last set is July 16. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

"My time in Yellowknife made me realize that my work is about the people and the music," Nabess said. "I don't like it when people just play for money. We all have a heart, so the music should come from there."

Nabess led the house band for the last two years. Before that he kept rocking the stage for stretches of several months, stepping down now and then to let other bands pass through.

Gold Range manager Nadene McMenemy collaborated with Nabess to develop his ideas for the bar's popular jigging contest and idol contest.

"Charles is a gentleman and a very committed musician who is aware of the room when he plays," she said.

"He puts so much into his music. He'd keep playing until 4 a.m. if he was allowed."

With 500 songs in his repertoire and 50 years as a musician, Nabess has what it takes to keep that energy going night after night.

"When everything clicks and the people respond we let it fly on stage," he said. "Those times are the best."

Learning in Manitoba

He learned to play guitar and fiddle while growing up in Thicket Portage in northern Manitoba. He moved to The Pas at 16.

Within a few years he took his guitar on the road.

He led Three Penny Opera, a six-piece band named for the Berthold Brecht play, from 1964 to 1992. They played clubs across the continent and toured Europe.

Dene artist Archie Beaulieu, a fan of Nabess' music, painted the album cover for his next CD, which is scheduled for a fall release, featuring 12 original songs.

Spiritual motifs

The design is based on the guitarist's signature entwined with spiritual and musical motifs.

"We're really close to Mother Earth up here," Nabess said. "Like a lot of people, I do a lot of giving thanks when I'm here."

Gold Range owner Richard Yurkiw said he's thankful for what Nabess contributed to his bar.

"Charles has definitely been an asset for us," he said. "He has a lot of friends up here. We'll get him back." Nabess plays his last gig at the Gold Range on July 16.