The Charles Walker Band
The World and Things
visit the band's website
also available on cd baby
This band out of the Middle West has some very smooth and polished chops down, particularly when it comes to Blues, R & B and Soul. None other than Charles Walker leads it on Tenor and Alto Saxes. However he is very ably supported and spurred on by Shanna Jackson’s vocals that, no matter the genre, are spot on the money. There is more than enough angst and shout in her voice to carry the vocal load by herself; it is a confident and sure voice. Her singing both in range and style might remind the listener of Koko Taylor. This is a disc filled with tight ensemble playing and when the solos are taken they are good, each of the players has spent time and effort thinking them through. There is little wasted motion on this disc; it is a tight and economical working of the blues (be they from Texas, Chicago, or jump blues) and R & B and Soul. There were no credits for the writers on the copy I had so I don’t know who wrote the songs, though I suspect it is Charles Walker.
Personnel:
Charles Walker - Tenor / Alto Sax
Miss Shanna Jackson - Lead Vocals
Dr. Emre Alp - Lead / Rhythm Guitar
Kent "Dice" Hamele - Bass
Nic Fugate - Drums
Featuring:
Rob Waters - Hammond B3 Organ & Piano
Steve Cohen - Harmonica (tracks 7, 9)