Walter "Wolfman" Washington  Live

 It was billed as a folk festival, with Walter “Wolfman” Washington headlining. Walter and folk music goes together like Ozzy and gospel music. I didn’t care what they called it as long as I got to see one of reigning kings of the New Orleans funk/blues scene.

  Walter, who honed his chops backing up Johnny Adams in the 80’s, took the stage and started right in with the instrumental “Funkyard” from Walter’s latest studio release “Funk Is In The House”. He quickly followed it up with his classic cover of Bill Withers “Use Me”. “Use Me” which is a great tune to begin with, is brought into the stratosphere as the Roadmasters (Jack Cruz-bass, Tom Fitzpatrick-tenor sax, Wibert “Junkyard” Arnold-drums, Larry Carter-trumpet and newcomer Tom Worrell-Keyboards) brings that New Orleans funk hard and nasty to create a new standard by which “Use Me” will be measured against. The core of the Roadmasters (Tom, Wilbert & Jack) have been together for almost 15 years, so when Walter takes a new twist or turn in his playing the band effortlessly falls in behind him. Besides being an extremely talented vocalist, Walter adds the funk with his own guitar playing. Sporting a red sunburst Les Paul, which matched his red jumpsuit, Walter followed up “Use Me” with a guitar heavy instrumental “Wolf Funk”. By now, the crowd of mostly college kids, some that came for folk music, where dancing madly, like the crowds at the Maple Leaf, Walter’s home base haunt in New Orleans.

  Walter and the band also played the beautiful ballad “I’m In Love”, the title track from “Funk Is In The House” and “Baby You Don’t Have To Go”.

  The evening wrapped up way too early with an encore set of “You Can Stay But The Noise Must Go” and “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” (both which can be found on a great new Walter sampler on Rounder Records “On The Prowl”). It might not have been a house but FUNK was definitely on the stage!

(Dave Moskal)