Although he sang on occasion, and played guitar, too,
Little Walter will always be revered for his harmonica skills, and in his own way he was the
John Coltrane of the instrument, creating and shaping the sound of the "Mississippi saxophone" into the very template of the Chicago blues style, and any short list of blues harp players starts with this amazing musician. This three-disc, 60-track set provides a balanced overview of
Little Walter's career, and includes solo sides as well as samples of his work with the likes of
Otis Rush,
Muddy Waters,
John Brim,
Johnny Shines,
Jimmy Rogers, and
Memphis Minnie. Wonderful set.
–
Steve Leggett, Rovi