PHILLIP WALKER "GOING BACK HOME" Source: Blues In Britain Magazine Date: 02/2007 Writer: Mick Rainsford

Phillip Walker is a doyen of Texas blues.  An artist whose back catalogue is littered with releases of the highest quality.  In fact I can’t remember a release by him that I have not enjoyed – so why should this set be any different.  And it’s not.

“Going Back Home” is an apt title for this set which magnificently explores Walker’s Texas blues roots.  “Going Back Home”?  He has never been away!

For this project Delta Groove have provided Walker with an all-star backing band featuring Rusty Zinn (guitar), Richard Innes (drums), Fred Kaplan and Rob Rio (piano), Al Blake (harmonica), James Thomas (bass) with Jeff Turmes and David Woodford featuring – at different times – on baritone and tenor sax.

The set opens with Percy Mayfield’s “Lying Woman” – Walker’s familiar deep blues vocals riding a funky guitar and horn riff.  Lowell Fulson’s “Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home” finds Walker’s smokey, resigned vocals underpinned by cascading piano and brooding tenor sax, his guitar swathed in notes that could be construed as blues in their own right.

Ray Charles’ “Blackjack” is a revelation, Walker’s anguished vocals mirrored by deep rolling piano and moaning guitar -  “Don’t Think ‘Cause Your Pretty” pays tribute to Sam Hopkins with Walker’s vocals capturing the deep blues essence that permeates Hopkins’ blues, Blake contributing chilling harp – whilst “If You See My Baby” is a brooding Texas blues replete with cascading piano and pulsing bass lines, Walker’s guitar permeated with the pain that smothers his vocals.  Blake, once again, proves the perfect foil for Walker as his mournful harp underpins Walker’s plaintive vocals on “Sweet Home New Orleans”.  The Crescent City also comes to mind on Jack Dupree’s “Bad Blood” with it’s deep rolling piano, resigned vocals and brooding sax and guitar.

A rollicking “Walking With Frankie” replete with an infectious horn riff and great stick-work, is permeated with gospel overtones – a brooding “If You See My Baby” where cascading piano and slow pulsing bass accentuate the pain that is inherent in Walker’s vocals and fretwork – and the vibrant stomping shuffle of “Lay You Down” are further highlights of a set that I can only describe as essential.

Texas blues at it’s finest!

A triumph for both Phillip Walker and Delta Groove Productions!