Nightwalk
Delmark, 2022
8/10
The inimitable guitarist and vocalist Dave Weld knows his way around a blues tune you won’t soon forget, and here with The Imperial Flames he brings us a dozen tracks steeped in the Chicago blues tradition.
“Mary Who” starts the listen with fluid and rugged blues, where Harry Yaseen’s bright keys, and Sax Gordon’s baritone sax complement Weld’s sturdy guitar and gritty pipes, and “Don’t Ever Change Your Ways” follows with Kenny Pickens’ well timed bass lines alongside Monica Myhre’s backing vocals in the energetic climate.
Elsewhere, “Travelin’ Woman” showcases Graham Guest’s skilled B3, Kenny Anderson’s animated trumpet and Myhre’s soulful pipes on the album’s best selection, while “Donde Vas” recruits Bill McFarland’s trombone and Rogers Randle Jr.’s alto sax for the intimate affair that illustrates Myhre’s diverse, cultured voice.
“Hit By The 103” arrives near the end and emits a smooth, textured demeanor of timeless blues song craft, and “Loving You/Jelly Roll Blues” continues the strong musicianship with Taylor’s thumping drums amid Gordon’s baritone sax prowess and Weld’s raw singing.
This is Weld’s 3rd album on the Delmark label, and like everything he’s been involved in, it’s genuine, powerful and innovative in a way that requires multiple listens.
Travels well with: Bob Stroger & The Headcutters- That’s My Name; Johnny Burgin- Live
