Customer Reviews

Fine Cuts

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Frank Hadley's review is ridiculous. Walter Horton's playing on this CD swings like crazy, is fluent, expressive, and totally in focus. The mixed blues and jazz material shows the Chicago blues legend's versatility, and the young guys playing with him are consummate instrumentalists. As for the singing -- it is not the group's strong point but it is quite passable. Listen to the samples for yourself and ignore the professional bad-mouther!

I used to go see Big Walter play. Only a musical idiot and moron cannot understand the depth of feeling portrayed in Big Walter's playing and singing. Whaddya want, a blues legend to sound like Barbara Streisand? This is really tasty stuff, really wonderful renditions by a bluse Master. Get it and LISTEN and FEEL.

Big Walter shows here why he had one of the greatest blues harmonica tones of all time, sadness and sweetness all in one....

...used to see Walter play on Sunday evenings at B.L.U.E.S. on Halstead, accompanied by Sunnyland Slim (piano), Odie Payne Jr (Drums), Bob Strozier (bass). These were cherished evenings. Sure, Walter's vocals leave much to be desired, but that harp playing was superb. This cd presents Walter in alot of different lights, including some jazz. But he was always able to build jazz licks into his blues solos...a sign of improvisational genius. This is a testament to the greatness of Big Walter, one of the 4 greatest harp players of all time.

Walter Horton is often regarded as one of the big five of classic harmonica blues, the others being Little Walter, Rice Miller, James Cotton and Junior Wells.
My favorites on this recording are the 5 instrumentals, La Cucaracha, Walter's Swing, Hobo Blues, Relaxin', and Don't Get Around Much Anymore. My very favorite is Hobo Blues which is the only solo harmonica piece on the 11 cut CD.

I have been playing harmonica most of my life. One might say I have dedicated my life to the pursuit.
This is the best blues harmonica album that has ever been recorded (Junior Wells Hoo Doo Man Blues being a close second).

Not only is Walter's playing what harmonica players should be measured against, the wonderful material, production and
comsumate support from the musicians for the songs and the artist are beyond reproach.

At the end, it is the master work of a amazingly talented harmonica player, with a lifetime of gigs behind of him,
delivering a work for the ages. Bravo Big Walter. This recording continues to enrich my musical life. Tim Gartland