Mike Walker, Madhouse And The Whole Thing There Review

Overall Rating

This is jazz guitarist Mike Walker's long awaited debut solo CD The album takes the listener on a stunningly varied musical journey which is so satisfying that you want to begin listening again as soon as the album has ended.

With respect to a previous reviewer, I disagree with his view that this album is too short. This CD plays, and is sequenced, to my mind, like an album (you remember vinyl!) - Side 1, Tracks 1 to 4 - Side 2, Tracks 5 & 6. It is refreshing in these days of so many "filler track, where's the skip button" CDs to come across a full album you want to hear every track of again.

Mike Walker, Madhouse And The Whole Thing There is difficult to pigeonhole as simply "Jazz" - there is just so much music here - I think this album is a feast for the senses and in my view, an instant classic. Epic in scope, yet immensely approachable, those who know Mike Walker purely for his familiar, formidable, laugh out loud quality guitar playing cannot fail to be impressed by the subtleties, vision and breadth of the compositions on display here. Adding another string to his bow - several,in fact, in the case of the first track "A Real Embrace" - the writing is deep rooted and intense in places, yet it remains wholly accessible and draws consistently out of this world performances from the assembled cast, repaying repeated listens with hidden gems revealing themselves from within the mix. Mention must be made of Iain Dixon, who, in addition to co-producing, gives an absolute masterclass in saxophone and clarinet playing throughout and Mikey Wilson whose tight, restrained-yet-on-the-verge-of-boiling-over drumming keeps the engine room cooking nicely. If you enjoy high quality music at all and you get chance, I highly recommend you check this CD out, it's the real deal.

Members' Comments onBassline's Review

• paulco on 22nd Jun 2008

  Yea - with regards to my comments of the albums length; I should've made it more clear but what I was meaning was that I wish the album was longer, because I think it's great so want more of it, not that the album was short in length. I think it's a good length- I just never want to stop listening to Mike's music!