Seth Walker
Leap of Faith (Hyena)The warm swell of bluesy organ and Seth Walker's soulful vocals are a match made in heaven and maybe a few other places. His sixth full-length, Leap of Faith, isn't so much a jump as it is a jumping-off place for Walker's broad-based love of blues in its many forms. With composing partner Gary Nicholson on hand for most of the songs, the local guitarist delivers righteously on "I Got a Song," strings and soul coupled like something Lyle Lovett and Ray Charles might have collaborated on amid select Percy Mayfield ("Memory Pain") and Nick Lowe ("Lately I've Let Things Slide") covers. If that sounds like hype, consider that Delbert McClinton throws down with Walker on "Something Fast" for a divinely wrought vocal pairing. Leap of Faith doesn't require a gamble, because Walker avoids the temptation to trendify his no-frills blues with raps or overblown gospel choruses. Instead, he leaves just enough to want more.
