This
is the second time in less than a year that we've had the pleasure
to work with Bobby "BlackHat" Walters. His new
release "Wall Street Blues" is a double disc set
that contains a CD and a DVD. I'll tell ya a bit about the
DVD a little
later, but let's get to the music first.
On the CD part of this
package, Bobby "BlackHat" Walters
on Lead Vocals & Harmonica is joined by Larry Berwald on Guitar & Background
Vocals, Von Jose' Roberts on Bass & Background Vocals, Eric Shaw
on Keyboards & Background Vocals, Dennis Wage on Keyboards, Jim
Kolacek on Drums & Percussion and Randy Burt on Saxophone.
Walters and Berwald are also writers and co-writers of all tracks.
The disc opens with the quite topical title track "Wall Street
Blues". It's a slow, sullen sounding song about an equally
sullen topic. The way Bobby sees it, it didn't matter if you
voted Obama
or McCain, everybody's feeling the pain. It's a depressing
song about depressing times sung in a depressing tone. The
lyrics
and the vocals
are this tracks highlights.
Ok, time to snap out of that mood and put your dancin' shoes
on and there's no better way to do that than with the "BlackHat
Boogie". This one rips. Bobby's tearin' it up on harp & sounding
real happy on the vocals, the rhythm guys are jammin', and as usually
is the case when there is a song with "Boogie" in the title
and a piano player in the band - the piano player is "Boogieing" on
piano.
"Put On Your Red Shoes", and while you're at it, a straw
hat too. Then suck down a few rum runners and look for a limbo bar.
That's what this track made me want to do....at least the rum runners
part. Jim's drum & percussion along with Dennis Wage on
organ highlight this hot island sounding number.
She's my "Honey Biscuit" and I'm her jelly jam.
Sounds like a tasty relationship to me. This all too short
track features
some very great piano playing and excellent vocals and harp
blowin' by Bobby. I could have handled a few more minutes
of this.
"Crying In The Shower" is a soft, slow, and beautiful
blues ballad. It's highlighted by Bobby's emotional vocals,
Randy's intense saxophone solos and Larry's scorching blues
guitar. This
is the kind of stuff that lights my blues fire. For sure one
of the discs best.
Other tracks on "Wall Street Blues", which offers a variation
of many types of blues, include: "I Think, You Think", "Oh
Baby, Oh Baby", "Memphis", "The Blues Ain't Got
Me", "I Didn't Do Enough" and "Old Cold Bones".
The DVD, which is part of this double disc package, is sort
of a triple treat. It's a live recording of a Bobby "BlackHat" Walters
performance at Goodfellas in Hampton, VA. The disc features a lot
of the songs from Bobby's first CD - "You Changed Your Mind
Again".
You can check Bobby out by going to www.bobbyblackhat.com/.
While you're there, make sure you pick up a copy of "Wall Street Blues".
It's a heck of a lot of entertainment for your dollar. And,
as the title track sings about, now is when you need it most.
BTW,
tell
BlackHat Blewzzman sent ya.
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
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Bobby BlackHat CD "You Changed Your
Mind Again" available at BEST
BUY!
Bobby BlackHat voted 2008 MEONA Harp Player of
the Year.
XM Satellite Radio. For those
of you who have XM radio please tune in to Bluesville (Channel 74).
Bill Wax has put a couple of Bobby BlackHat tracks in rotation.
Live From Memphis: First, on behalf of Larry and myself, thanks again
to the Natchel` Blues Network for sponsoring us at the IBC. Although
we
didn't
bring
home the prize, we did our best to represent the NBN with distinction.
From the comments and kudos we received from the judges and audience,
I think we done the NBN proud. The IBC has evolved far beyond an amateur
competition and is now the largest gathering of blues musicians in
the world. Larry and I were both proud and humbled to participate.
It was a fantastic playing, listening, learning and networking experience.
We were able to meet the who's who of the blues industry at all levels
and make many new friends from across the globe.
Now for the recap. I cannot describe adequately in words how high the
bar was set for this competition. It was the most intense blues immersion
you could ever imagine. If you ever want to get a true Blues Baptism
(sounds like a song title to me), then this is the place to be. The
crowds were large and charged up all over Beale Street. I was totally
amazed at the quality, variety, and creativity displayed throughout
the event. Larry B and I performed at the Handy Blues Hall (aka Juke
Joint) on Thursday and Friday. Our sets were limited to 25 minutes,
with three different judges each night. Performers were scored based
on blues content, talent, originality, and stage presence. We competed
against nine other acts in our venue with one act advancing to the
finals.
Other than the competition and delicious Memphis ribs, my greatest
thrill was being able to jam at the Hard Rock Cafe, Wet Willies,
DoubleTree Hotel, and the Rum Boogie Cafe. The Rum Boogie Cafe was
the crown jewel
for jamming and I took the stage twice to showcase my own songs in
front of some of the hottest blues performers in the country. Here's
a sample of the Saturday night jam lineup...Watermelon Slim, Zac
Harmon, Rick DelGrosso, Billy Gibson, Bob Margolin, Willie "Big
Eyes" Smith,
Super Chicken, Fiona Boyes, Gary Clark, Jr, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones,
Matt Walsh and more. At 2AM more musicians were still arriving. It
was total blues overload. One of my favorite moments was watching
last years 2nd place finishers the "Homemade
Jamz Blues Band" perform
along with several other youth competitors. They were all under 16
years old and the drummer was a 9 year old young lady named Taya.
Let me tell you, these kids just blew the house down.
If you want to really scratch your blues itch, then I suggest you start
planning your trip down to next year's IBC.