CD Reviews-October 2002

Delbert McClinton-Room to Breathe New West Record

Delbert McClinton is not only a gifted vocalist and harmonica player but also a legend whose distinct style sets him apart from other blues artists. While his career as a singer began in the mid 1950s, it took Delbert nearly two decades to evolve into one of the most renowned and respected blues artists to come out of Texas. His latest recording, Room to Breathe, again gives long-time fans a pleasing combination of blues, soul, country, and rock and roll.

Room to Breathe is classic Delbert McClinton with tight horn arrangements, funky rhythms, and Delbert's trademark 'story telling' lyrics. While there are no big surprises here, Room to Breathe is an enthusiastic and fun recording. McClinton starts working his mojo from the first track, "Same Kind of Crazy" where the harp player struts his stuff with a tasty solo. The singer gives the listener some old school boogie-woogie with rolling piano and a Jerry Lee Lewis vibe on "Blues About You Baby". With Emmylou Harris, Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell (to name a few) backing McClinton on vocals, "Low Star Blues" mixes country with a twang of bluegrass fiddle. Delbert's signature rough-edged voice is the focal point in his heartfelt ballad "Don't Want To Love You", which could easily rival his rendition of the Otis Redding classic "Dreams". "New York City" is an up tempo tribute to a city that saw devastation.
Even though this album is what we've come to expect from Delbert McClinton, the twelve tracks are nonetheless fresh and pristine. Room to Breathe would be a welcome addition to any Delbert enthusiast's collection.-Tony Engelhart

Joe Louis Walker-In The Morning-Telarc

Joe Louis Walker is not just another young blues artist. While he began recording around the same time as other blues revivalists, such as Robert Cray, Walker's music has always walked the line between gospel and blues. Joe Louis Walker combines these two genres once again on In The Morning, his first release for Telarc, which is possibly his best record since the 1988 release, The Gift.

Picking up the guitar at age 14, Walker was immediately drawn to the blues. However, by the mid-seventies the young picker turned to God and sang Gospel for nearly a decade with the Spiritual Corinthians. His return to blues came in 1985 when the group performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Merging his love of Gospel with a passion for blues turned out to be not only self-gratifying, but also commercially successful for Walker.

In The Morning explores many facets of the blues. Joe Louis Walker's guitar playing is clean and sharp as ever-as is evident on the first track, "You're Just About To Lose Your Clown". While the title track has a generally spiritual message, "Where Jesus Leads" is a clear declaration to Walker's deep beliefs. Walker's guitar-driven, instrumental/shuffle "2120 South Michigan Avenue" shows his love to jam; the tune sounds loose and unrehearsed. The disc ends with "Strangers In Our Own House," dipping into the Mississippi Delta with only acoustic guitars and Walker's raw and exposed vocals.

From East Texas blues and Delta Blues, to Soul and Gospel, Joe Louis Walker provides a little something for everyone without losing sight of his innate and impassioned convictions.-Tony Engelhart

Willie King and the Liberators-Living In A New World
Rooster Blues Records

At 59 years old, it's hard to believe that there are only two recordings available by musician/activist Willie King. If you're looking for the "real deal", look no further than his latest recording, Living In A New World.

Born in the rural and divided South of Alabama, Willie King has a lot to say about race relations and, as he also showed in his 2000 release Freedom Creek, King is not inhibited about constructing songs that express his political views. Like the late John Lee Hooker, Willie King's lyrics are simplistic, almost as if he makes them up as he plays. His vocals are gritty and well-traveled. Backed by a stellar band, The Liberators, Willie is not confined to standard blues riffs. A key component of the Willie King sound is the vocal harmonies by Willie Lee Halbert . Kevin Hayes' uncomplicated sax fills and Henry Smith's unobtrusive keyboards give the recording a rich and robust feel. The title track interlaces elements of jazz within a mid-tempo shuffle and the artist even sprinkles in spoken word towards the end of this ditty. Willie takes the listener back to old school blues on another laid-back shuffle entitled "Crawlin' Blues" in which his smooth guitar work is showcased. With improvised lyrics, "America" is clearly a show of patriotism after the tragedy of September 11th. While Living In A New World is generally political throughout, with implicit regard to slavery and racism, two songs are based directly on the plight of African Americans: "Is It My Imagination" and "Terrorized".

Musically, Living In A New World is laid-back and comfortable. Lyrically, this recording is thought-provoking, insightful, and profound. Not a bad combination, as Willie King's love of this time-honored music comes from the heart. -Tony Engelhart