PHILLIP WALKER "GOING BACK HOME" Source: Blues & Rhythm Magazine Date: 01/2007 Writer: Tony Burke

A new set from Phillip Walker is always good news. After a lengthy stint with Bruce Bromberg at Hightone followed by a one-off live set with M.C. Records, Phillip has inked for California’s Delta Groove Productions and here he makes an impressive debut for the label.

Produced by Randy Chortkoff and featuring a host of veteran west coast sessioneers – Rusty Zinn, guitar; Richard Innes, drums; Fred Kaplan and Rob Rio, piano; Big Al Blake on harp and Jeff Turmes on bass and saxes, Phillip reaches back to his 1950s and 1960s roots with thirteen tracks which include four originals from Chortkoff and Al Blake.

Nine of the tracks selected are from artists who have influenced Phillip or who he admires, kicking off with a funky version of Percy Mayfield’s wonderful ‘Lying Woman’. Lowell Fulson’s ‘Mama Bring Your Clothes’ gets a piano intro worthy of any of Fulson’s Swingtime/ Downbeat sides while Phillip’s version of Eddie Snow’s ‘Mean Woman’, originally axed in Memphis captures the classic Sun blues sound. Ray Charles’ ‘Blackjack’ originally cut for Atlantic in 1954 is a wonderfully slow and painful blues about a gambling addiction and how every quarter is spent on the card game.
Those readers who have seen Phillip play live know of his affection for Lightnin’ Hopkins. His solo spot playing Lightnin’s sides is always a treat – when he plays Lightnin’ solo, supported just by his own guitar, you get the real deal. On Hopkins’ ’Don’t Think’ he is in splendid form supported on acoustic guitar by Zinn and on harp by Al Blake – a downhome tour-de-force.

Another of Phillip’s main influences is Lonesome Sundown and here he plays two Sundown numbers – ‘Leave My Money’ and ‘If You See My Baby’. Both are straight out of the Excello textbook.
On Jack Dupree’s ‘Bad Blood’ (aka ‘Think You Need A Shot’) Rob Rio knocks off Jack’s piano style to a T and the rhythm section provide the ‘walking blues’ that Jack made his trademark in New York in the 1950s. Phillip rounds things off with a galloping take on Frankie Lee Sims’ ‘Walkin’ With Frankie’.

The sides by penned by Chortkoff are in keeping with the rest of the album as is Blake’s ‘New Orleans’.

Phillip has turned out some fine contemporary blues albums over the years. The idea to have him perform songs by some of his contemporaries and influences works really well. Expect to see this set listed prominently in this year’s array of blues awards!