Full Circle

Walter Trout

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ruf
• ASIN: B000FGFUX6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,466 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Guest-star projects can be such tiresome affairs. Too often, the high-profile "friend" is nothing more than the record label's idea of someone they can feature on the front cover to generate additional sales. Additionally, these performances are frequently overdubbed, so the artist and the guest never actually come in contact with each other. Thankfully, neither is the case on Walter Trout's first studio album of new material since 2001's Go the Distance. Not only has the hotshot guitarist worked and maintained friendships with these players, but they convened in the same studio at the same time to nail these tunes. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of Trout's friends are guitarists who--like him--prefer to charge through songs with the intensity of a salmon swimming upstream. Joe Bonamassa, Bernard Allison, Guitar Shorty, Jeff Healey, Junior Watson, and Coco Montoya all share guitar-duel duties, and while the results aren't exactly subtle, there's enough explosive firepower here to level a small building. Even an acoustic session with Eric Sardinas--a neighbor of Trout's--attacks like an unplugged Rory Gallagher on a hot Belfast night. John Mayall (keyboards/vocals), James Harman (harp), Finis Tasby (vocals), Deacon Jones (Hammond B3 organ), and Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward also bring their game faces, and sometimes songs, contributing to various tracks with energy and intensity. Trout plays with his usual all-stops-out bluster, but there is an obvious affection for his guests on every track, which both energizes and spurs him on to new heights on what is arguably his best and most diverse effort yet. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description

With the release of FULL CIRCLE, Walter Trout has realized a long held dream – to invite musician friends from his 35+ year career together to compose and play together. His first new studio release in five years, FULL CIRCLE reflects Walter Trout’s remarkable story, from his humble beginnings as a sideman in many a blues legends’ band through his rising solo star, arriving as one of blues music’s beloved interpreters.

The project is a full circle in time and place, a journey through the range of styles that represent the blues music genre – a celebration of where the blues world is, where it has been and where it’s going.

Among the 25 musicians appearing are John Mayall, Coco Montoya, Bernard Allison, Jeff Healey, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Sardinas, Guitar Shorty, Finis Tasby, Junior Watson, James Harman and Deacon Jones.

FULL CIRCLE is the most accomplished and satisfying release of Walter Trout’s discography, and demonstrates his passion for music is just as great today as it was when he started playing as a teenager more than 35 years ago. He considers the new album a tribute to the people and the times that have helped shape his musical appreciation, demonstrating how the many styles within the blues genre can co-exist and mutually enhance each other without fight for rank or authenticity.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb blues album!, August 8, 2006

By	M. Bernocchi "mbernocchi" (Old Windsor, Berkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just to be clear from the very beginning, from my point of view this is one of the best electric blues albums ever published in recent years. I was wondering whom and when could have challenged the best ever made "Blues Deluxe": here is the answer. As explained in the booklet this album was meant to cover all the different shadows of blues played by Mr. Trout during his 35 years of career in the music business. The list of guests is impressive and includes (in order of appearance): John Mayall, Jeff Healey, Eric Sardinas, Coco Montoya, Junior Watson, Guitar Shorty, James Harman, Bernard Allison, Finis Tasby, Deacon Jones and dulcis in fundo Joe Bonamassa. Talking about the music there is something that is important to say: this is a live "in studio" album. All the songs included here were recorded live with all the musicians playing all together in the studio and some of them at the first take without even a rehearsal! And you can feel it! The CD immediately starts with a killer, a slow blues where Walter delivers one of the best solos of the entire album and goes on in a sequence of breath taking blues songs. Particularly good the one with the great Jeff Healey, the acoustic (the only one included here) number with Eric Sardinas and the closing duet with Joe Bonamassa. However it is hard to find a favourite one in here, as all the songs are equally good. Without any doubts a five stars album that shouldn't be missed by any electric blues fan!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this one!!, June 20, 2006

By	Mr. Michael S. Riley "(Scott)" (St. Louis area) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD is a must have. I bought this at Walter's show last week and haven't stopped listening to it yet. Be sure to read the liner notes. It explains his connection to each artist and much more. It's really good to hear Walter together with Joe Bonamassa. They are both the finest around. They wrote the song in the studio and played it one time. This is what is on the CD. What a treat!. Also, the duo with Jeff Healey is A+. It's great to hear Walter with John Mayall on two tunes. The first tune on the CD is one of the finest tunes you'll ever hear. Walter really lets it loose on this long song. Buy this CD!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trout Rules, August 14, 2006

By	D. Davidson (New Berlin, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been a Trout fan for a few yesrs now. I was looking forward for some time for a new studio release. The wait was well worth it. Full Circle is great. The guest artist are some of the best; Banamassa, Guitar Shorty, John Mayall, Montoya, Sardinas. Can the blues get any better? I think not. With guitar mixes of guest and Trout on different channels, listening with headphones is the best. I love this album.