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September 25, 2002
Not one of the blues world's major figures, Louisiana-born, Texas-raised guitarist Phillip Walker has nonetheless released lots of quality music since his debut single in 1959. He's played with everyone from Clifton Chenier to Little Richard, but found his biggest commercial boost in 1999 when he teamed with Lonnie Brooks and Long John Hunter for the Lone Star Shootout album. On this M.C. Records release documenting a two-night stand in the titular San Francisco club, Walker exudes confidence, passion and energy.
Backed by a tight four-piece horn section and augmented by guests Angela Strehli and Charlie Musselwhite on a snappy cover of Jimmie McCracklin's "Think," as well as Little Charlie frontman/harp
master Rick Estrin -- who contributes a scorching solo on Lowell Fulsom's "Reconsider Baby" -- Walker is inspired in these surroundings. His guitar stabs and stings as he tears into the Memphis R&B of
Ann Peebles' "Breaking Up Somebody's Home" and the aching slow blues of a nearly eight-minute version of Guitar Slim's "Along About Midnight."
His voice cracks occasionally -- in
particular on the rollicking set closer "Linda Lu" -- but that just adds to the atmosphere of this gritty, unretouched recording. It won't break him into the big time, but the under-appreciated Walker's
only live album shows he's a classy performer whose heart is steeped in the soul of the Texas blues, jaunty rock, and crisp R&B he's been playing for over 40 years.
Hal Horowitz
CDNOW Contributing Writer
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