Joe Louis Walker – Live In Istanbul (2015)
Musicians: Joe Louis Walker – guitar, vocals; Tom Rose – rhythm guitar; Mike Eppley – organ, electric piano; Tony Saunders – bass; Chris Nutall – drums
Studio: MVD Ent. Group MVD 75050 [8/14/15]
Audio: English PCM Stereo
Video: 16×9 color
TrackList: Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind; Rain In My Mind; You Got To Lose; Street People; I Didn’t Know; Bluesifyin’; Funkin’ Blues; Play ‘Em Where They Lay; Lost Heart; Hidden Feelings
Length: 85 minutes
Rating: Audio: *** Video: ** Overall: ***
San Francisco native Joe Louis Walker embraced the blues scene at an early age. Among his influences as a child were T Bone Walker, B.B. King, Meade Lux Lewis and Amos Wilburn. He was equally influenced by soul vocalists like Otis Redding, Bobby Womack, Wilson Pickett and James Brown. He played with a variety of artists including Jimi Hendrix, Steve Miller, Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, John Mayall, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Thelonious Monk and John Lee Hooker. He became close friends with Mike Bloomfield, whose untimely death resulted in a suspension of his blues career.
Eventually JLW returned with a chain of successful albums including JLW (1994) and Blues Of The Month Club (1995). He incorporated many elements including gospel. His 1997 release Great Guitars featured collaborations with Bonnie Raitt, Ike Turner, Buddy Guy, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Taj Mahal, Robert Lockwood Jr, Steve Cropper, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Otis Rush. He was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2013.
MVD Entertainment has released a DVD, Joe Louis Walker – Live In Istanbul. Recorded in 1995, this concert reflects the greatest asset of Walker; his live act. Although the video footage is grainy, Walker and his band pull off an energetic set. “Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind” is hard-rocking blues with Walker unleashing soulful vocals and a blistering guitar solo. There is an element of funk with the rhythm guitarist Tom Rose and bassist Tony Saunders. Walker shines on electric slide during “Rain In My Mind” as organist Mike Eppley provides great shading. The band lays down some nasty grooves on “You Got To Lose”. With a doo-wop chorus, Walker vocals are pure soul, and his guitar solos are creative and dynamic. This extended jam is a show stopper.
The effect-laden slide intro to “Bluesifyin’” becomes a down and dirty, worthy of blues classic status. It is uplifting and Walker’s vocals transcend the song. Eppley switches to piano for a Chicago-style jam. The band is versatile and strut their stuff during the expansive band introductions on “Funkin’ Blues”. Tony Saunders’ bass runs are funky and nimble. Oldtime rock and roll infuses “Play ‘Em Where They Lay”. By the time the set closes with the soul party “Hidden Feelings”, the crowd is up and dancing to the music.
Joe Louis Walker – Live In Istanbul is good music. The PCM stereo is good with clear acoustics. But the video quality is sub-par and fuzzy at times.
–Robbie Gerson
