PHILLIP WALKER "GOING BACK HOME" Source: Bad Dog Blues Date: 03/2007 Writer: Jeff Harris

It’s been a long time since Philip Walker’s formative years, when he formed his style playing around the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas. The funny thing about veteran bluesmen like Walker is that they never really lose those roots and they very much in evidence on his superb Delta Groove debut, the aptly titled, "Going Back Home."

 The Gulf Coast is a unique musical melting pot where a young Walker heard Cajun and Creole as a youngster and then the blues when he moved with his family across the line to Port Arthur Texas. Walker landed a stint with the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier and by the end of the 50’s Walker moved to Los Angeles. There he waxed scattershot 45's for small outfits like Elko and Gilkey through the 60's as well as cutting sides with George "Harmonica" Smith, Johnny Shines and others. His recording career got a huge boost through the support of Bruce Bromberg resulting in 1973’s classic "The Bottom of the Top" followed by the potent "Someday You'll Have These Blues." Walker really never cut a bad record, following up with worthy records for Rounder, HighTone, Black Top and JSP. It’s been seven years since Walker’s last studio effort (he cut a live one in 2002 for M.C.) and he sounds as good as ever, revisiting his roots in magnificent fashion.

 Walker possesses a warm, expressive voice and alternates between elegant and stinging guitar work. Delta Groove has surrounded Walker with a terrific band befitting his stature; on rhythm/lead guitar is West Coast ace Rusty Zinn, Jeff Turmes on bass, Richard Innes on drums, Rob Rio on piano plus pianist Fred Kaplan and harmonica blower Al Blake form the Hollywood Blue Flames. Walker pays tribute to his Gulf Coast influences tackling a pair by the late, great Lonesome Sundown (Walker played guitar on his knockout 1977 comeback "Been Gone Too Long") including the shuffling "Leave My Money Alone" and the steamy "If You See My Baby." Also from the same territory are fine covers of Lightnin’ Hopkins' low-down "Don’t Think 'Cause You’re Pretty" featuring atmospheric harp from Blake and Frankie Lee Sims' infectious classic "Walking with Frankie." Walker also pays tribute to other influences including Percy Mayfield's funky, hilarious "Lying Woman" ("When I first see you, say you’re name was Mary Jane/But when I saw you in the police lineup the heat was calling you another name") and digs deep into a moody version the Ray Charles classic "Blackjack." On board are some fine originals including the bouncy Lightnin' Hopkins styled "Honey Stew" and the storming "Lay You Down" both prominently featuring the sizzling fret work of Rusty Zinn with the later showcasing the honking tenor of David Woodford.

 For whatever reason Walker never received the high profile of similar guitarists from his region and era like his cousin Gatemouth Brown or contemporaries like Albert Collins and Lonnie Brooks. Whatever the reason there’s no doubting his passion and talent as he proves on "Going Back Home", the first truly great record of 2007.