A top-ten finalist in four of the past five years' prestigious UK Songwriting Competition (including second place in the Jazz/Blues category of the 2002), Greg Walker is now making waves in the highly popular independent artists download charts at mp3tunes.com, where Straight From The Source 1 has held the No.1 position simultaneously in the overall Jazz chart, the Latin Jazz chart and the Brazilian Jazz chart - the latter, almost without break for several months.

Straight From The Source

A top-ten finalist in three of the past four years' prestigious UK Songwriting Competition (including second place in the Jazz/Blues category of the 2002), Greg Walker is now making waves in the highly popular independent artists download charts at mp3tunes.com, where Straight From The Source 1 has held the No.1 position simultaneously in the overall Jazz chart, the Latin Jazz chart and the Brazilian Jazz chart - the latter, almost without break for several months.

"Infused with the subtle scent of Latino and a spray of stylish atmospherics, SFTS1 kicks off with the instantly likeable Rio Geo before transporting the listener up to the heights of Then Again..., one of the catchiest and simultaneously haunting tunes you'll hear this side of Havana. Then there's Somewhere In This World - an infectious, almost commercial, snapping-fingers-in-the-air groove, with a melody that will stay with you long after the track has finished. By contrast, there is a melancholic, wistful quality to pieces like Children of the Latin Quarter, Lee's Summit and While You're Far Away.

Never far away, though, is the brazilian influence which infuses these pieces with a slow-burning passion. Cool? Yes, but it is more than that - beguiling, intelligent and perhaps more importantly, extremely listenable - you'll want to play it again and again."


Should you feel inclined to part with some cash, Straight From The Source 1 is available from the following places, as either a CD or mp3 downloads:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/gwalker

www.mp3tunes.com/gregwalker

the Apple iTunes music store at www.apple.com/itunes

or direct from the source, so to speak, at www.straightfromthesource.co.uk/sfts2/index.html


Straight From The Source 2 was released in March 2006 and is now available directly from me at www.straightfromthesource.co.uk/sfts2/index.html - payment through Paypal or personal cheque (UK only at the moment) - please email me through Myspace or via the website for details.

It is also available online at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/gwalker2

A couple of initial reviews...

"...fans of SFTS1 won't be disappointed. Let me make this clear: not only is Straight From The Source 2 as good as the first, it is even better. It isn't just very good, it's outstanding. Blending latin, jazz and Brazilian elements in a rich mix that manages to be both diverse and unified, it's assured without being brash - to my mind, the playing acts as a support to the compositions, which means it never becomes pretentious or self indulgent - it's just a real listening pleasure. Play it once. Play it twice. Play it over and over. You'll be smitten."

and another...

"Yep, it's a love story. Beautiful playing, restrained and tasteful, gorgeous production, lovely tunes. I have a confession - "I Should Know By Now" made me cry! Greg my man, why aren't you huge? These albums are destined to become two of my favourites. My first instinct was right - 'kin brilliant!"

and yet another...

"Beneath the simple yet striking packaging lies a superbly crafted, eminently listenable and thoroughly consistent album, different in mood from its predecessor, Straight From The Source 1. UK-based guitarist and composer Greg Walker has crafted ten supremely lyrical tunes that make this the consummate second album. The many inspired flourishes throughout whisk your mind instantly away to Pat Metheny's breeziest, most light-filled playing - never more so than on the intriguingly-titled 'Two Sugars For Louis', with its lovely harmonica/synth motif. There are even echoes of Acoustic Alchemy in the pristine The Other Side Of Here. Pete May's contributions on piano are exquisite, and guest flugelhorn/trumpet by Dave Pugh is sublime... there's no other word for it. This album could well prove to be the perfect soundtrack to summer 2006 for lovers of ambient jazz."

Any questions, please get in touch - thanks for dropping in (and may the source be with you...)