When blues guitarist Joe Louis Walker made his debut in 1986, his playing immediately made a huge impression. The now 60-year-old American is a late bloomer but he has been catching up with over twenty releases in the last 25 years. His latest album, Between a Rock and the Blues, still has echoes of the influences Walker picked up from his former roommate Mike Bloomfield, who taught him the finer points of the blues. After Bloomfield's death, the guitarist's mission was clear. In America, Walker is a popular guest in high circles. He played at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton and can be seen on the best-known TV shows. But the San Francisco-born all-round blues artist is above all else a pleasure to see and hear live, with his energetic performance, razor-sharp timing and unforgettably intense voice.
