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Jake Walker - Confidence Man

Left Turn Music

http://www.myspace.com/58lespaul

Jake Walker is New York blues guitarist whose star is on the rise in the worldwide blues scene. He leads a number of bands in the U.S. and Europe and is making a name for himself as an artist to watch. Confidence Man is Walker’s first studio album and features mostly original tunes as well as performances by many well-known blues musicians like Mark Naftalin (Butterfield Blues Band), Mike Lattrell (Popa Chubby, Bill Berry, Richie Havens), Arthur Neilson (Shemekia Copeland), and Matt Mousseau (Big Ed Sullivan).

Recorded live in the studio, the record shows Walkers’ many influences and ranges from Chicago blues to Stax/Volt sounds, Big Easy R&B, gospel, funk, and even surf music. Seemingly more guitarist than singer, Walker is nonetheless deeply soulful and grooving here, at times conjuring a Freddy King-type of vibe but always remaining true to himself.

While an excellent guitar player, Walker keeps his overall sound pretty much in the pocket one would expect from a blues band. That will make traditionalists happy and grind a bit on fans that feel they have heard this sound before. No matter which camp one may fall into,

Walker is worth a listen, if for nothing else that his stinging guitar style. His songwriting will hopefully develop a bit beyond what is here on his solo debut and, when that happens, Walker will be pretty much unstoppable. Highlights on the record include “Can’t Get No Grindin’” and “Somebody On Your Bond.” .

Review by Mike O'Cull

www.myspace.com/mikeocullmusic

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