Blue Crew : Joe Louis Walker in good company on ‘Great Guitars.’

Bay Area guitarist Joe Louis Walker, winner of three W.C. Handy Awards, will headline a rare blues gig Saturday at Nicholby’s in Ventura, a venue generally known for alternative rock and swing dancing. Opening will be local R & B legends the Bombers, who used to rule the dance floor in this here Poinsettia City but haven’t played in years.

Born on Christmas Day, 1949, Walker began playing guitar when he was 14. He survived the “tune in, turn on, drop out” scenario of the ‘60s as a teenager and ended up rooming with guitar whiz Mike Bloomfield, who in turn introduced Walker to all those blues legends on that endless road trip.

By 1975 Walker was in a gospel group, which he stayed with for 10 years. But since 1986 Walker has had those blues and fronts his own band, the Bosstalkers.

His latest album, “Great Guitars,” is an excellent example of truth in advertising, featuring such talents as Taj Mahal, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Ike Turner, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt and many others. Walker talked about the album, his brand of blues and other stuff during a recent phone interview.

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“Great Guitars” has Grammy written all over it. How did it come about?

It was something I wanted to do for a long time. There’s all these great musicians and everyone was real receptive. I had me a list of people--a long list--so I sort of had to scale it down. There were a few more guitarists that had agreed to be on it but for a variety of reasons couldn’t do it. Then I worked out a schedule--that was the hard part--and we did it. I think it turned out very cool.

What was it like playing in Haight-Ashbury during those silly ‘60s?

I was born in the Bay Area, so I was there before everyone else got there. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime. I used to play in Fillmore and Haight-Ashbury when it was more like Harlem at the Battle of the Bands. We played in all those clubs and at the Fillmore itself before Bill Graham owned it. I met Jourma Kaukonen, Jack Cassidy, Bobby Weir and all those guys because we were always crossing paths and playing the same gigs.

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After that you joined a gospel group?

Yes, but I grew up on gospel. A friend of mine asked me to sit in with the Royal Corinthians one night, and I liked the guys, the guys liked me, and I ended up staying for 10 years.

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How would you describe your version of the blues?

Diverse.

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So how’s the blues biz these days?

I always like to say it’s feast or famine. There’s guys like B. B. [King] and Buddy [Guy], and some younger guys are getting big contracts. Then there’s the other guys like Magic Slim, Luther Allison, Charlie Musselwhite and myself just trying to take it to another level. A lot of it has to do with just sticking with it. If you stick with it, and with a little bit of good luck, only good can happen to you.

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What’s the attraction of the blues in Europe?

They’ve always been into American culture. In England for example, even during the disco era, blues was still highly respected. They tend to nurture the younger blues artists. Over here, you have to get big before they notice you. They just think about things differently over there. I’ve been to Europe about 25 times during the last 12 years. In fact, wherever I go I hear the blues. In English, in Spanish, in Portuguese or in Japanese, there are blues bands everywhere.

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Who are your guitar heroes?

I like different guys for different things. For style, I like Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack and Steve Cropper. For blues pickers, I like B.B. King and Buddy Guy. For slide guitar, I like Earl Hooker and Fred McDowell, and for acoustic slide guitar, I like Son House.

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It seems there is more of a sense of community among blues men than rock ‘n’ rollers. Is that true?

I think that’s true. It has to do with the type of music you play and the individuals that play it. A lot of blues musicians are trying to connect with the blues heritage. Rock bands try to sound different, and they try to stay different. That’s why you never see ZZ Top jam with Aerosmith. ZZ Top doesn’t jam with anybody.

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Do some people still think the blues is all about being sad?

To a degree that’s true, but you know, I think people are finally getting away from that. That’s only for somebody that doesn’t know anything about the blues. Once you hear it, you get a better idea of what it’s all about.

BE THERE

Joe Louis Walker and the Bombers at Nicholby’s, 404 E. Main St., Ventura. Sat., 9 p.m. $7. 653-2320.