Once again, we are very proud to introduce you to some of the fantastic talents that will be coming out to perform May 27th at Jeff Healey: A 50th Celebration. Today, the incredible Walter Trout!
A native of New Jersey, Walter’s practical schooling began in earnest when he arrived in LA in 1974, and promptly earned his reputation as an A-list sideman, backing John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Finis Tasby, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Percy Mayfield and Joe Tex. In 1981, he joined the remaining original members of the legendary Canned Heat, but the real turning-point was his five-year tenure with British blues giant John Mayall, who invited Trout to become the latest in the Bluesbreakers’ lineage of guitar greats (including Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor).
Trout founded his own solo band in 1989 and cut his debut album ‘Life In The Jungle’ that same year, rapidly becoming a chart-topping star in Europe. His first stateside release, 1998’s critically heralded ‘Walter Trout,’ made him a fixture of the US blues-rock scene.
Live at Club Paradiso in Amsterdam, 2003! Absolutely scorching!
In 2006, Walter released the wonderful ‘Full Circle‘. The record featured a number of his friends and peers, from Coco Montoya to John Mayall, Guitar Shorty to Joe Bonamassa… and of course, our very own Jeff Healey.
“I first met Jeff when I toured Canada in the mid 80s with John Mayall. Jeff and his band were our opening act. He is an unbelievable talent and a true gentleman. When he agreed to be on this record, we decided I would go to Toronto and we would record there… we set up and played live in keeping with the concept of “Full Circle”. I showed (the band) the song and we went for it. Jeff plays and sings beautifully and the band grooves big time. What a great joy to record with one of my all time favourite musicians…”
Making ‘Working Overtime‘ with Jeff Healey – in Walter’s own words…
“He was an unbelievable gentleman,” remembers Walter Trout. “A gentle, beautiful soul.”
‘Working Overtime‘ featuring Jeff Healey & the Jeff Healey Blues Band!
As Trout’s army of international fans are painfully aware, recent times have taken the bandleader to the brink, following a bleak diagnosis of life-threatening liver failure and hepatitis C in 2013. Trout’s rebirth began with a successful transplant in May 2014, and gathered pace with 2015’s ‘Battle Scars’: the acclaimed studio album that channeled his near-death experience into raw autobiographical songs. ‘Battle Scars’ is his 18th album on the Netherlands-based Provogue label, and his 42nd overall, including pre-solo recordings with Canned Heat and the Bluesbreakers.
‘Almost Gone’ from 2015’s incredible BATTLE SCARS!
Hi latest, due June 17th on Mascot/Provogue, ‘ALIVE in Amsterdam’ is the sound of a man announcing his resurrection after a period on the ropes.
Walter Trout has never sounded so alive. The date is November 28th, 2015. The location is Amsterdam’s opulent Royal Theatre Carré. And the occasion is a live performance of the blues-rock legend at full-throttle. “We were rocking,” remembers Trout of the comeback concert captured on ‘ALIVE in Amsterdam.’ “If people are expecting a laid-back show, that’s not what they’ll get. This is potent stuff…”
Yet for this lifelong road-warrior, a return to the stage was always the ultimate goal. And last summer, as Trout headed out on a comeback tour that blew the roof off venues from the Royal Albert Hall to Buddy Guy’s Legends club in Chicago, every fan in the house saw that the man wasn’t just back, he was better than ever. “That whole tour was kinda triumphant for me,” Trout reflects. “Just to be back, after what I went through. But also to be playing with a renewed energy and commitment.”
“I’d gone through a few years of symptoms,” he continues, “where I’d get hand-cramps, dizzy spells and chronic fatigue onstage. It was a struggle. On this last tour, I wasn’t struggling. We were having a great time. We couldn’t stop. ‘‘ALIVE in Amsterdam’ ’ captures the atmosphere.”
…And we are overjoyed that Walter will be joining us on May 27th at Massey Hall in Toronto for Jeff Healey: A 50th Celebration!
We’ll be back real soon with another feature on some of the amazing talents that will be gracing the stage in celebration of Jeff Healey on May 27th! Stay tuned! Peace. ~Rog
***THIS JUST IN FROM MASSEY HALL!*** “We are thrilled to announce that the Jeff Healey 50th Celebration tribute concert at Massey Hall on May 27 will be filmed and recorded as part of our Live at Massey Hall series. Tickets from $18.94 available: http://masseyhall.com/eventdetail/JeffHealey50“
Friday May 27th, at the legendary Massey Hall in Toronto – “Jeff Healey: A 50th Celebration”
Join us for an amazing night of music celebrating Canadian music icon, Jeff Healey in what would have been his 50th birthday year!
Featuring: Albert Lee, Sonny Landreth, Walter Trout, The Trews, Philip Sayce, The Jeff Healey Alumni Band, Special guests Shakura S’Aida, “Mr. Downchild” himself – Donnie Walsh, some very cool surprises and a KILLER House Band feat. Pat Rush, Stan Miczek, Jerome Godboo, Dean Glover, Chris Caddell… with all proceeds going to World Eye Cancer Hope!
Great seats still available! You can get yours from Ticketmaster HERE, at Live Nation and at the Massey Hall/Roy Thompson Hall box office!
Only heard ONE Walter Trout track, and I’m hooked! I’ve probably heard his work on other’s songs but never thought to check for his own music. Will be rectifying that out ASAP!