Joe Louis Walker - Hellfire

Label: Alligator Records

Reviewed by Holger Petersen, host of Natch'l Blues

Joe Louis Walker has been referred to "one of today's modern blues masters" (Living Blues) and "ferocious" (Rolling Stone). He's a naturally gifted artist whose talent spans categorization. His career has included gospel, rock, jazz, blues and soul music. Like delta bluesmen Son House and Robert Johnson, Joe Louis Walker has been conflicted between lifestyles. The title track "Hellfire" address this with the lyrics, "Hellfire, it's my Church" and "always have to serve two masters, good and bad and left and right."

Hellfire is Joe Louis Walker's  24th release and one of the best of his legendary career. Backed by a rock solid band, plus The Jordanaires doing backing vocals on two tracks, he brings his deeply intense, passionate guitar playing and singing to every track.

His first for Alligator Records, Hellfire is also his first produced by Tom Hambridge who piloted Buddy Guy’s recent Grammy-winning albums.   As his live performances at the both the Edmonton Blues and Folk Festivals in the last few years attest, Joe Louis Walkeris one of the most talented and exciting artists on the scene.

April 6, 2012