Joe Louis Walker Viva Las Vegas Live

Joe Louis Walker
Viva Las Vegas Live
Cleopatra Blues

"Viva Las Vegas Live" is, I believe, the 26th album from Joe Louis Walker, and the 4th live album, in his Hall of Fame recording career that goes back to 1986. Of the blues artists who emerged from the 1970s on, I would be hard-pressed to find one who has produced such a substantial body of music as well as continues to play such a diverse repertoire. Besides his superb, imaginative guitar playing, he is one of today's blues most powerful, moving singers.

"Viva Las Vegas Live" is available as a CD/DVD package, with the same music on both. It was recorded and filmed at The Railhead at the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino on August 2, 2018. In addition to Walker's guitar and vocals, Bruce Bears is on keyboards, Lenny Bradford on bass, and Dorian Randolph on drums.

The songs here span over two decades of Walker's career opening with the hot rocking "I'm Not Messin' Around" and include the driving blues-rock of "Do You Love Me." One risk of live recordings is that some performances are better experienced live. On disc, the same performance sounds over-extended. "Sugar Mama" has strong vocals and guitar, Bears is first-rate, and Walker even plays some harmonica, but at 16 minutes it goes on a bit too long for these ears. While lengthy, it is not a poor performance.

One can appreciate that Walker maintains such a broad and deep repertoire. "In the Morning" was the title track of his 2002 Telarc album, while "Soldier For Jesus" harkens back to his gospel roots. A rollicking rendition of "Too Drunk To Drive Drunk" has some Chuck Berry styled guitar along with Bears' barrelhouse piano. A rocking "Like It That Way," with some intense guitar has him tell his women to give Walker all her love, that's all he needs. All the band members solo on this selection.

The DVD is pretty straight-forward in presenting these performances with crisp camera work that focuses on Walker and his band. There may be a few flaws here, but that does change the fact that this album is an accomplished live recording.

I purchased this. Here is the official trailer for this release.