PHILLIP WALKER "GOING BACK HOME" Source: Blues Wax Date: 03/2007 Writer: Kyle M. Palarino

BluesWax Rating: 10 out of 10
Traditional Album of the Year?

Phillip Walker has a resume longer than the Grand Canyon is wide. This recording brings Walker's roots of growing up in Louisiana and Texas and mixes with a few originals from the modern West Coast "A" class of musicians. Songwriters here include Percy Mayfield, Lowell Fulson, Ray Charles, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Frankie Lee Sims. Randy Chortkoff and Al Blake bring in the modern songs that meld into the rest very well.

This is one of the best listens I have had in a long time of traditional Blues. It is not only a traditional fair though, it updates the older sounds with perfection as well. The blend of Phillip Walker with the Delta Groove musicians is a perfect pairing. Jeff Turmes and Richard Innes are the rhythm section on bass and drums while Rusty Zinn plays second guitar throughout. Fred Kaplan and Rob Rio share the piano seat, Al Blake blows the harp for two songs, and David Woodford and Jeff Turmes polish the sax on about half the album.

The sounds are tight and respectful while paving a smooth road. These recordings can be played alongside the legends and fit right in. Walker leads the band with the great subtlety that only a true veteran has learned. The band has an understanding of the old sounds keeping the soundscape the perfect hue of blue.

The opening horn riff of "Lying Woman" turns into a funky bass line before Walker sings the lines on the money each time. His guitar playing is so seasoned it should be listed as legendary. Fred Kaplan opens "Mama Bring Your Clothes Back Home" with a bouncing piano intro before the stop-and-go rhythm gets the song into a swinging, relaxed feel. A 1950s R&B feel pushes "Mean Mean Woman" along while Zinn plays the lead guitar on the song and caresses each note with a razor-sharp precision. The tempo slows down for Walker to tell ya'll about "Blackjack." The guitar fills between the vocals have such a honey-sweet tone from Walker that you'll want to hear more of those tones. Kaplan again presses the keys adding an excellent atmosphere to the song. Even when Walker speeds up his guitar, it still has a laid-back groove on it.

"Honey Stew" goes out to the West Coast for some of the swingin' Blues. Chortkoff wrote the song and Zinn plays the lead guitar on this song, but it gels right alongside the Charles- and Fulson-penned tunes as Phillip sings "I'm your jockey baby, I'm gonna teach ya how to ride/I said once in the middle and then from side to side." This is a classic song that only adds to the great album they have assembled here. Now strip things down a bit, add an eerie echo to Walker's voice and the haunting harmonica of Al Blake to the Lightnin' Hopkins "Don't Think Cause Your Pretty," and you feel as if you are in a studio around Dallas or Houston about fifty years ago. The clean guitar and constant thump of the bass drum create a Hopkinsesque feel that he can't argue 'bout.

Get in the smoky barroom with the dim lights for Champion Jack Dupree's "Bad Blood." This song has an atmosphere that is rare on any recording. The Kaplan piano and Woodford sax melt together for Zinn to play a solo that makes you want to scream a "Halleluiah"! If this song don't set a romantic mood at the same time then you are shopping in the 'fridgerator department. Chortkoff adds "Lay You Down" next with saxes playing a bouncing riff and Walker ripping into a hot solo. The song again is a perfect fit for the album. Chortkoff's traditional approach to songwriting is very welcome and is a breath of fresh air. Get out the boogie on Frankie Lee Sims' "Walking with Frankie." This song is light boogie that has a playful call and response between the guitar and sax. The song even has a slight Gospel tone throughout, a cool closeout to a great album.

Phillip Walker has been around for a long time and wears his years well. This is a superb addition to his catalog. From each song selected and each musician's contribution this is the perfect martini. Now I'm gonna hit play and do it all over again.

Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax

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