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In The Morning Joe Louis Walker Telarc Records, 2002
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Reviewed by Pamela L. Dow
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It isn't too often when a new recording conveys that feeling of satisfaction, becoming a treasured work of pure listening pleasure. When it does, you really can't help but want to share it with everyone you know. One such recording In The Morning, the latest release by veteran blues artist Joe Louis Walker. In The Morning is a first-rate recording from start to finish and can easily be described as refreshing, enjoyable: a genuine feel good album. In The Morning covers many styles of blues, from delta and soul, to gospel and R&B, reflecting the music that defines the artist himself. With a career spanning several decades, Walker continues to remains loyal to his love of gospel and his passion for blues. Walker is a gifted guitar virtuoso who has a very natural style and an instinctive ease when performing. On In The Morning Walker maintains an equal balance on each track, his solo work enhancing the sound without expanding far beyond the song's original intent. In The Morning offers up a pleasant blend of blues styles and tempo changes that truly compliment each other. Every track highlights Walker's dynamic, highly energetic style as a performer. The artist's soulful spirit certainly delivers a sound that somehow manages to be as smooth as silk and sizzling hot. The album's 10 tracks are a tailored fit, enhancing both Walker's expressive vocals and blazing fretwork. In The Morning has a clear, well-defined sound, with plenty of room for Walker's emotional spirit to shine, starting with the opening track, the Latin-flavored "You're Just About To Lose Your Clown." The title track, "In The Morning," is a light, soulful tune, the first of two definitive gospel tracks, highlighting the wonderful background vocals of Andrea Re. "Joe's Jump" switches gears with it's upbeat, foot stompin' shuffle and snappy guitar solos. It sounds like Walker is really having one heck of a good time with this one. The mood changes on, "Leave That Girl Alone," a jazz-influenced soul tune with some impressive guitar leads. Walker's voice howls and woos in the background, a nice effect. The second gospel tune is, "Where Jesus Leads," a genuine tribute to the genre, as Walker delivers a strong vocal performance quite similar to that of Al Green's preachin' style. One of the stronger tracks on In The Morning, and a personal favorite, is "Strange Loving." This is a powerful number, with it's gritty, swamp rock style of R&B. Walker's vocals are full-bodied, as he groans and growls, shouts and moans with a sound reminiscent to that of Wilson Picket. This is certainly one of those tunes having all the necessary ingredients for top 10 single status. "Do You Wanna Be With Me?" is a hip, soulful tune, with a slight disco feel. Walker dances across the fretboard with incredible ease, his solo work is infectious, guiding the focus back towards a more R&B sound. Walker closes the album in grand finale style, saving his very best for last with "Strangers In Our House." This final track is an all-acoustic Mississippi delta blues tune, showcasing Walker's talents both vocally and on bottleneck. He delivers a vocal performance loaded with raw, gut wrenching emotion. Walker draws you directly into the story and, once he's got you, there's no letting go. In The Morning highlights the music of Joe Louis Walker's impressive career. It's like a having a front row seat to experience one of most dynamic soul and blues artists in the music industry today. Walker worked on this recording with some of the very best musicians in the business, G.E. Smith on guitar, Andrea Re with backup vocals and percussion, T-Bone Wolk on bass, Steve Holley on drums and David Maxwell on keyboards. Walker has paid his dues and racked up plenty of mileage through the years, performing all across the country. Born on Christmas Day in 1949, Walker was raised in a household heavily influenced by Gospel music. His parents owned a collection of blues recordings that sparked Walker's interest with the genre, and by the age of 14 he began playing guitar. Two years later, he left home and headed for San Francisco, finally residing in the Haight-Ashbury district, sharing a room with guitarist Mike Bloomfield of the Butterfield Blues Band. Walker spent the next decade opening for and playing with some of the most influential blues artists of that period, who are now legends of the genre. Walker played with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Lightin' Hopkins, Freddie King, Lowell Fusion and even Jimi Hendrix and his mentor, Mississippi Fred McDowell, a major influence on Walker's style. Even though he continued performing, the lifestyle during that time period began taking its toll. In 1975, Walker just up and left, leaving behind a promising career in blues. Shortly after, he joined a gospel group called The Spiritual Corinthians and continued performing with them for another decade. Walker's gospel group performed at the 1985 New Orleans Jazz Festival. While there, he felt a strong pull back towards the blues. After touring in Europe, Walker formed his own band, The Bosstalkers, and returned to San Francisco to begin performing at various blues clubs. Walker never looked back, he signed a record deal, and was eventually awarded three W.C. Handy Awards in 1988, 1989, and 1990 as Contemporary Blues Artist of the Year. Walker and the Bosstalkers changed labels in 1992 and won the W.C. Handy Award for Best Blues Band in 1996. He began recording with blues artists like James Cotton and B.B. King while writing material for several others. Walker was making a name for himself, recording ten solo albums since his Handy awards, slowly making his way up the ladder with several well known blues artists. Walker has a devoted following, yet this talented contemporary blues artist is still somewhat overlooked, not receiving the kind of recognition he so rightly deserves. Walker is one of only a few artists with the versatility and experience to incorporate the sounds of gospel and blues together with such perfection. Walker reaches both ends of the emotional spectrum on
In The Morning, from pleasure and pain to sorrow and
joy. His talents have been nurtured through time and life
experience, earning him the title of bluesmaster. In The
Morning is a great example of the man and his music, a
reflection of the sound that fills his heart. Walker's high
powered performance certainly indicates he has no intention
of slowing down. | December 2002 |
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