Charles Walker, tenor saxophone, keyboard, songwriter & band leader, received formal jazz training at UW Eau Claire. He has played saxophone for over 17 years.  His last band was Muddy Blue, who released a CD entitled “Low Down Dirty Blues”.  He has played with such greats as Big Al from New Orleans and JJ Johnson at BB’s in St. Louis.  Muziczine describes him as “Particularly inventive, Walker is a musician bursting with talent.  Well capable of building a melody line, his tenor sax thrusts through the mix powerfully” (4/6/09).   His influences are Luther Allison, Ray Charles, Illinois Jacquet, Louis Jordan, Stan Getz, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, Sax Gordon, Keb’ Mo, and John Coltrane.