Toby Walker In Performance
October 4th at the Huntington Folk Music Society
JOHN PLATT - WFUV
by Sybil Moser
Toby Walker returned to our stage to open our spectacular 40th Anniversary season, and boy did he put on a great show for us. He has performed on our stage many times over the past twenty years or so, and Toby keeps getting better.Toby was warmly introduced by our President, Ira Perlman, who honored him as a close friend — and by John Platt of WFUV who testified to Toby's unique talents.
Toby played many spectacular tunes from his new album Hand Picked on either his magnificent guitar or his exuberant resonator, which demonstrated his virtuosity on the guitar. His voice boomed or insinuated or crooned to tell the stories of the songs, which he had introduced with a fascinating tale of the stories behind the stories of the song. There is no better interpreter of the blues, traditional or contemporary, on stages today ... and none more entertaining.
Toby reminisced about sending us a demo tape years ago, and then he came to a concert at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory auditorium, where our concerts were held then, and played his first open mike with us ... and it earned him a house concert gig. As an emerging artist, he played our stage many times, and had many gigs at My Father's Place in Roslyn opening for the great name blues artists of the time. His talent and repertoire developed over time, and in 2002 in Memphis he won the International Blues Challenge Award and transformed himself into a full-time professional, and we welcomed him with a First Saturday gig that June.
Toby Walker returned to our stage to open our spectacular 40th Anniversary season, and boy did he put on a great show for us. He has performed on our stage many times over the past twenty years or so, and Toby keeps getting better.Toby was warmly introduced by our President, Ira Perlman, who honored him as a close friend — and by John Platt of WFUV who testified to Toby's unique talents.
Toby played many spectacular tunes from his new album Hand Picked on either his magnificent guitar or his exuberant resonator, which demonstrated his virtuosity on the guitar. His voice boomed or insinuated or crooned to tell the stories of the songs, which he had introduced with a fascinating tale of the stories behind the stories of the song. There is no better interpreter of the blues, traditional or contemporary, on stages today ... and none more entertaining.
Toby reminisced about sending us a demo tape years ago, and then he came to a concert at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory auditorium, where our concerts were held then, and played his first open mike with us ... and it earned him a house concert gig. As an emerging artist, he played our stage many times, and had many gigs at My Father's Place in Roslyn opening for the great name blues artists of the time. His talent and repertoire developed over time, and in 2002 in Memphis he won the International Blues Challenge Award and transformed himself into a full-time professional, and we welcomed him with a First Saturday gig that June.
Martha Trachtenberg
On two compelling songs this evening, Toby was joined by Martha Trachtenberg. Martha performs with Toby on these songs on his CD. The harmony was moving.
Another special surprise came in his encore, when he was joined by his wife, Carol, in a compelling gospel anthem.
Another special surprise came in his encore, when he was joined by his wife, Carol, in a compelling gospel anthem.