Featured Artist: Fred Walker and the Mystic Voyage Band

CD Title: Blues In a Red Dress

Year: 1999

Record Label: Star City Records

Style: Blues

Musicians: Fred Walker (saxes), Cornelius Davis and David Green (keyboards), Leland Crenshaw (guitar), Brian Simms (bass and vocals), Carlos Hughes (drums), William Berry (percussion),Anetta Flowers, LaDoris Collins and Lisa Harris (background vocalists)

Review: Fred Walker is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and has been active with The Mystic Voyage Band since the early 1980's. The group is well known on the local club scene and this is their debut CD.

With the exception of "Feel Like Making Love" and "Amazing Grace", all tunes are originals by members of the group. The personnel: Fred Walker - saxes, Cornelius Davis and David Green - keyboards, Leland Crenshaw - guitar, Brian Simms - bass and vocals, Carlos Hughes - drums. Also appearing are William Berry - percussion and background vocalists Annetta Flowers, LaDoris Collins and Lisa Harris. Influenced by Gene Ammons, Cannonball Adderly and Paul Desmond, Fred Walker leads this combo with confidence and a great sense that music should always reflect beauty.

The title song, Blues In a Red Dress, is a fine twelve bar blues played within the boundaries of tradition. Particularly touching is a tribute to Fred's grand daughter, Cynetria, who tragically passed away at age 9. "We're Gonna Miss You, Cindy" is a beautiful melody penned by Michael LaCosta in memory of the young Cindy.

Other tunes include "Nyte Flyte", "No More War", "In My Heart", "Going Back To Houston" and "Cruzyn and Bluzyn". The entire CD is a really nice mix of music for the adult contemporary enthusiast. I look forward to hearing more by Fred and Mystic Voyage.

If you can't find the CD at your favorite store, you can email Fred directly at: freconi@aol.com

Tracks: Feel Like Making Love, Amazing Grace, Blues In a Red Dress,We're Gonna Miss You Cindy, Nyte Flyte, No More War, In My Heart, Going Back To Houston, Cruzyn and Bluzyn, and others

Reviewed by: Richard Bourcier

Click here for printer-friendly version of review.

Send this page to a friend.