The first time I ever heard Walter “Wolfman” Washington was at the 1987 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and I was blown away. As soon as I possibly could, I tracked down one of his recordings (Wolf Tracks) and I purchased each subsequent release, including his recordings with Joe Krown and Russell Batiste, Jr.

I was first drawn to his tasty brand of blues that incorporated R&B, soul, and funk in equal doses and his crisp guitar work, but the longer I listened, his vocals really became a major selling point.

The Crescent City lost one of their greatest musical ambassadors in December of 2022, when Washington passed away after a battle with tonsil cancer. Fortunately, he was able to complete his final album, Feel So At Home (Tipitina’s Record Club), which was a follow-up to his 2018 release, My Future Is My Past, which put the bluesman in a relatively mellow jazz setting with satisfactory results, with his vocal talents front and center.

Feel So At Home continues in the same vein as its predecessor, more or less, but with more of an emphasis on the blues and Washington’s superb guitar work. The disc includes eight tracks, with three Washington new versions of previously released originals and five covers.

Like his previous effort, Feel So At Home is produced by Ben Ellman (from the band Galactic), who contributes woodwinds to several tracks. Also in support are Ellman’s Galactic bandmate Stanton Moore on drums, James Singleton on bass, Steve DeTroy on piano, with John Michael on electric sitar, Rick G. Nelson on strings, and backing vocals from Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and Josh Kagler.

The title track opens the disc, with Ellman on woodwinds, Nelson and strings, and Michael’s electric sitar wafting in the background, as Washington delivers a wistful vocal that might leave a lump in the listener’s throat. “Without You” originally appeared in 1986 on Wolf Tracks as a slow soul burner, but Washington slows it down even further, giving the understated track more of a jazzy feel, with superb backing from DeTroy on piano.

“Along About Midnight” was penned by the legendary Guitar Slim (Washington’s uncle), with the Wolfman taking two typically fine guitar solos on this smoky after-hours blues. “Lovely Day” was a horn-driven tune featured on Washington’s debut album, 1981’s Rainin’ In My Life. On this beautiful reworking the tune is stretched out, allowed to “breathe,” if you will, and Washington’s vocal is just magnificent. It was recorded just after he was diagnosed with cancer and he struggled a bit singing it until Ellman put him on the couch in the control room to sing.

I was excited to see the blues standard “Black Night” on the track list, and there’s more of an emphasis on Washington’s sparkling fretwork. That being said, his expressive vocal really sells this version of the oft-recorded classic. Another tune from Guitar Slim, “Sufferin’ Mind,” picks up the pace slightly and Washington really sinks his teeth into this tune vocally and on guitar, obviously relishing the opportunity to record it.

I don’t think I really appreciated Washington’s vocal abilities until I heard “Rainin’ In My Life,” from his 1981 debut release, which I discovered after hearing his first couple of Rounder releases. “Rainin’…..” became one of my all-time favorite Wolf tracks thanks to his poignant, aching vocal on the original. Recreated for this album, this version compares well to the original. The guitar work is just as effective, but Washington’s vocal takes more of a reflective approach this time around.

The closing track, “I’ve Been Wrong So Long,” was featured on Bobby “Blue” Bland’s Two Steps From The Blues album (a must-have for any blues fan). Washington’s vocal effectively conveys the power and emotions involved with the song, and it’s really nice to hear that sweet guitar work one more time.

Feel So At Home serves as a perfect conclusion to Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s recording career. He served his city well over the years, never leaving during the post-Katrina chaos, even playing some of the earliest shows with the help of a generator. He broadcasted regularly on Facebook during the COVID epidemic to the delight of many blues fans, and he managed to continue performing until mid-September.

He is much missed, but he left a lot of great music for us to enjoy.

--- Graham Clarke