The roots finger style wizard
Toby Walker is as much a keeper of the old acoustic blues traditions, in their different regional styles, as a passer on to younger generations through his guitar teachings, and as a full creator able to transform old songs through his personal creative style.
A guitar virtuoso, wearing an eternal cap and tropical shirts, who confesses he probably has some 50,000 hours of training in his fingers, he went down many times to the Mississippi Delta or the North Carolina and Virginia Piedmont to meet and learn blues styles of elders like Etta Baker, Eugene Powell (Sonny Boy Nelson), Jack Owens and Bud Spires, James 'Son' Thomas, R.L. Burnside, Turner Foddrell, Wade Walton... He won the prestigious International Blues Challenge Award-Solo Category in 2002.
A humorous hijack of Jimmy "Duck Holmes Blue Front Cafe
juke-joint in Bentonia ►
For six tears, he was a regular contributor at the famous Fur Peace Ranch guitar-workshop of Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airlane, Hot Tuna…), and is still teaching blues guitar to high school kids or through videos or DVDs published by Happy Traum’s Homespun Music. As if it was not enough, between two album's recording sessions, he tours the U.S. and abroad, and is now referred to as the "finger-picking guitar wizard".
And he really is. To achieve such a status he had to leave his 20-year long job at the U.S. Postal Service, and later endure a divorce, but the result, as can be heard on this great 2011 album, was worth those sacrifices. At least for the listener.
These 16 tracks give a good idea of Walker's taste : the featured songs are signed by Mance Lipscomb, Blind Willie McTell (2 tracks), Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller (2), Blind Blake, Blind Willie Johnson, Muddy Waters (3), Huddie Ledbetter (aka Leadbelly), Big Bill Broonzy, Fred McDowell and Bo Carter (*).
With Etta Baker ▼
His study of old-school blues with guitar players from whom he learned special finger-picking and slide style techniques, rhythmical syncopation and open tuning secrets, allowed him not only to master but also to synthesize a wide range of styles (Delta, Piedmont, Chicago or Texas, rags, folk…) into a personal blend that makes him unique. His use of rare vintage guitars, benefiting at the same time from modern recording techniques, produces a superb sound.
His versions of the swinging "Shake Shake Mama", of "Mama Tain't Long For The Day" and "Travelin' Riverside Blues", of the superb "Midnight Special", of "Can't Be Satisfied" and "Broke Down Engine", or of the rocking "Cigarette Blues" are amazing. If Walker's raspy voice obviously doesn't sound Afro-American, he's still managing elegantly, and the swinging upright bass played by Mrs Walker (probably before the divorce) adds a welcome depth that underlines Walker's exceptional guitar style.
His synthesis between Piedmont elaborate finger-picking technique and Delta raw style, spiced with a bit of Texas or Chicago touch, is just a treat for the ears ! ■
► Check up Walker's web site: https://www.littletobywalker.com/, you'll find interesting things, especially in the "Learning from the Masters" and "How I Got The Blues" sections.
► The "Toby Waker in the Studio" & "Blues Time With Toby Walker" series : https://www.youtube.com/user/tobywalker123
The performer
◄ Toby Walker with Jorma Kaukonen
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