The Soul of Blues Harmonica from 1964 (Chess) by Big Walter “Shakey” Horton was the first record that has been very important for my harmonica playing. His melodic way of playing is what touched me.
I saw Walter live at the Blues Estafette in Utrecht in 1981. Very impressive and I was floored. No photos were allowed of him I can remember. He was particularly bothered by the flash light. I was there with Klaas Vermeulen (harmonica player friend, who died on 27 November 2020) and Rien and Marion Wisse of the then Blues Magazine Block.
Easy is one of Big Walter’s songs that I still play (derived from Ivory Joe Hunter’s ‘l Almost lost My mind’, which was recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis.
Big Walter Horton’s melodic way of playing is what appeals to me so much, his influences come from the music of his time and that can be heard, such as Bigband and Jazz bands.
Easy also features on my CD ‘Gait’, released in 2010. I can recommend everyone to have a listen to that.