Joe Louis Walker is a powerful blues guitarist and singer whose versatility and musical courage are showcased throughout this frequently rousing set. Walker collaborates (and sometimes battles it out) with Bonnie Raitt, Ike Turner, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Taj Mahal, Robert Lockwood Jr. and the Johnny Nocturne Horns on one song apiece, in addition to having three features of his own. Of the many highlights, "Low Down Dirty Blues" (which features Walker and Raitt jamming on slide guitars), the 1940s jump band feel of "Mile-Hi Club," the Walker-Guy guitar explosions on "Every Girl I See," the joyful encounter with Matt Murphy on "Nighttime" and Lockwood's appearance on "High Blood Pressure" are all quite memorable. This all-star gathering works quite well and is consistently memorable; all 11 selections are well worth hearing. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Scotty Moore (Guitar), Rob Sudduth (Sax (Baritone)), Ken Kessie (Engineer), Nate Herr (Release Coordinator), Tom Rose (Vocals (Background)), Joe Louis Walker (Vocals), Robert Lockwood, Jr. (Guitar (12 String Electric)), Tom Rose (Guitar), Joe Louis Walker (Arranger), Charles "D.C." Carnes (Guitar), Steve Cropper (Producer), Ike Turner (Guitar (Bass)), Bonnie Raitt (Vocals), Bill Churchville (Horn Arrangements), Mike Eppley (Piano), Barry Danielian (Horn Arrangements), Scotty Moore (Engineer), Giulio Turturro (Design), Taj Mahal (Guitar), Marc Hewitt (Engineer), Stephen Hart (Mixing), Ike Turner (Guitar), Mike Eppley (Organ), Mike Eppley (Vocals (Background)), Ike Turner (Keyboards), Jean-Philippe Allard (Executive Producer), Stephen "Doc" Kupka (Sax (Baritone)), Matt "Guitar" Murphy (Guitar), Marty Wehner (Trombone), Joe Louis Walker (Guitar), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Joe Louis Walker (Foot Stomping), Jay Newland (Engineer), Chris Bellman (Mastering), Bill Churchville (Trumpet), Buddy Guy (Guitar), Taj Mahal (National Steel Guitar), Bonnie Raitt (Slide Guitar), Stephen Hart (Engineer), Jim Albert (Engineer), Taj Mahal (Foot Stomping), Curtis Nutall (Drums), Bonnie Raitt (Performer), Joe Thomas (Vocals (Background)), John Firmin (Sax (Tenor)), Joe Louis Walker (Guitar (Acoustic)), Giulio Turturro (Art Direction), Ike Turner (Tambourine), David Luke (Engineer), Otis Grand (Lap Steel Guitar), George Spencer (Trumpet), Ike Turner (Producer), Jimmy "Gator" Hoare (Drums), Wallace Coleman (Harmonica), Barry Danielian (Trumpet), Joe Louis Walker (Percussion), Merri Cyr (Photography), Marty Wehner (Horn Arrangements), Steve Gomes (Guitar (Bass)), Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Guitar), John Scarpulla (Saxophone), Little Charlie Baty (Guitar), Emilio Castillo (Saxophone), Joe Louis Walker (Producer), Stephen Hart (Digital Editing), Paul Hamann (Assistant Engineer), Steve Spapperi (Engineer), Mike Cresswell (Engineer), Joe Thomas (Guitar (Bass)), Steve Diamond (Piano), Ben Conrad (Assistant Engineer), John Brant (Assistant Engineer), Robert Lockwood, Jr. (Performer), Rob Stupka (Drums), Howard Willing (Engineer), Joe Louis Walker (Slide Guitar), Otis Rush (Guitar), Otis Grand (Guitar), John Snyder (Producer)
A sporadically recurring supergroup featuring Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis, and Barney Kessel, Great Guitars' portentous name carries enormous expectations. But with world-class talent like these three operating in comfortable mainstream country, the music is usually worthy of the billing, genially swinging and harmonically erudite, with Byrd's classical and Latin influences playing against Ellis' and Kessel's Charlie Christian-grounded solo bop. Founded in 1973, Great Guitars recorded its first live album in July of 1974 -- it was the fledgling Concord Jazz label's fourth release -- and the three would reunite now and then to tour and record four more albums. Though a crippling stroke in 1992 ended Barney Kessel's career, Byrd and Ellis carried on with Great Guitars, adding Ron Escheté to the lineup at the Carl Jefferson tribute concert at the Concord Pavilion in July 1995, and recording a fine reunion album in 1996 with Mundell Lowe and, on five tracks, Larry Coryell. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide
Produced by Joe Louis Walker, Ike Turner, Steve Cropper, John Snyder. Executive producer: Jean-Philippe Allard.
Engineered by Scotty Moore, David Luke, Howard Willing, Jay Newland, Jim Albert, Ken Kessie, Mark Hewitt, Mike Creswell, Paul Haumann, Stephen Hart, Steve Spaperri Assistant Engineers: Ben Conrad, John Brant.
