Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater: "Cool Blues Walk" (1998)

Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater (Edward Harrington) is one of the last original purveyors of the classic West Side blues style. A contemporary of Magic Sam, Buddy Guy and Luther Allison, Eddy has developed a unique musical approach that comes from a wide variety of influences.  He learned guitar at an early age and that turned out to be left-handed and upside down! His band mates gave him a name to match Muddy Waters, thus Clear Water sounded like an Indian name. It stuck, and the nickname "The Chief" became part of his moniker as well.

This engaging title track  was recorded with the Duke Robillard Band (and produced with Duke).

‘Cool Blues Walk,’ is great because of the opening blues walk that you can't get out of your head, plus the smooth back and forth guitar duties between Clearwater and Robilliard, as well as Eddy's vocals. Both felt they had chemistry on the spot and Eddy, according to Duke, "... burns up the tracks with inspired blues guitar playing. This album should not only establish once and for all the Eddy Clearwater is one of the most powerful practitioners of the blues, but also one of the most creative and talented composers in all of roots music." -- Duke Robillard

The song (and album) features support from Robillard's band: Robillard, guitar; Doug James, (my favorite baritone sax player, who cut an album called "Blow Mr. Low"); Dennis Taylor, tenor sax; John Pack, bass, and Marty Richards, drums.

Carey Bell, the well known harp player, is Clearwater's cousin.