When reflecting on the giants of contemporary jazz music, it’s clear that they don’t get much bigger than Walter Beasley. With more than two dozen hit albums under his belt over 35 years. Beasley has been a fixture on the charts and in the concert world. And he is equally known as an educator, having trained many of the greatest soul and jazz artists as a Professor at the famed Berklee School of Music. In fact, he is the biggest selling full-time music professor in the world.
Though he is a busy, busy man, Walter Beasley has never slowed down his recording schedule, and he has now released the exquisite new album, Meet Me At My Place. It is a tasty combination of instrumental and vocal tracks that should get his longtime fans — and some new ones — cheering. And though the album features a good bit of new material, for our January Song of the Month we are featuring Walter’s take on a Jimmy Webb classic, popularized more than a half century ago by Glen Campbell.
“Wichita Lineman” is melancholy song in the voice of a hardworking lineman who describes his life and his hopes in beautiful fashion.
I need you more than want you
And I want you for all time
And the Wichita lineman
Is still on the line
On “Lineman” the noted saxman picks up the microphone to display his rich, rangy voice. It is an absolute winner. Check out “Wichita Lineman” below, and welcome the great Walter Beasley back to SoulTracks.
Song of the Month
Walter Beasley – “Wichita Lineman”
