Music Scene: Veteran bluesman Joe Louis Walker cherishes playing role of mentor

Music Scene: Veteran bluesman Joe Louis Walker cherishes playing role of mentor
August 20, 2010
By Jay N. Miller
Neosho Daily News

When it comes to young bluesmen, there are lots of pretenders and few contenders. Success and affirmation do not come overnight, as Joe Louis Walker can attest. Which is one reason Walker, 50, is happy to share his hard-earned headliner status with a younger guitarslinger like Murali Coryell.

After early success, when blues-rock giant Mike Bloomfield took him under his wing, Walker fell prey to the usual evil of the music business. Partly to help clean himself up, Walker stepped away from rock and blues, and worked as a gospel musician from 1975-85. He also went back to college and earned a degree in music from San Francisco State.

By 1986, Walker was ready to explore the blues again, and has been releasing superb albums since. Those discs include his latest, “Between a Rock and the Blues,” which won the Blues Music Award for best contemporary blues album. Living Blues magazine's annual awards also cited Walker, proclaiming him “Most Outstanding Musician – Guitar.”

“Between a Rock” includes a song written by his pal Coryell titled “Way Too Expensive.” Conversely, Walker guests on three tunes on Coryell’s latest album, “Sugar Lips.”

“I have performed with all kinds of people over the past 20 years,” Walker said from his home in upstate New York, “from Nick Lowe to Sly Stone.”

That list also includes famed jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Murali’s father.

“It's always good to see young guys eager to continue the legacy of the blues,” Walker said.

Walker said he and Murali Coryell, 40, work together almost effortlessly in the studio. Songwriting is not something they've tried to collaborate on yet, but he said he hasn't had much time for that this year.

“I've ... barely any time to sleep,” he said. “But I realize how fortunate I am to be in such demand, with the economic picture making our business so tough right now. It's very gratifying to feel so much respect and love from music fans.”

Coryell said Walker’s influence has helped his guitar playing improve “leaps and bounds.”

“Getting a chance at touring with Joe, with all these topnotch gigs that he gets, is such a blessing,” Coryell said. “Joe tells me he's only helping me the way Mike Bloomfield and B.B. King have helped him, but I love the man.”

Murali Coryell met Walker 20 years ago, when his band opened for Walker at Buddy Guy's club in Chicago. The two formed an instant bond, partly because of their love of soulful vocals and stiletto guitar leads.

“Joe's been like family ever since,” said Coryell.

The pair has spent time rehearsing, with their amalgamated band – which includes longtime Walker bassist Henry Oden, and Coryell's drummer Dorian Randolph.

The younger Coryell said his father is beaming over his son's success, and his partnership with Walker.

“All those jazz and blues guys 20 or 30 years ago knew each other,” Murali Coyell said. “Joe and my dad met for the first time at the North Sea Jazz Fest years ago. It added to the whole family vibe. My father is very proud of me and happy I've found a situation like this, that I love.”

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