Harvey Mandel - Snake Walk (2025)

Harvey “The Snake” Mandel was born in Detroit on March 11, 1945, and grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois, a town just outside of Chicago. he started playing guitar as a youth, and with resulting from his location, became heavily influenced by the Chicago blues artists. But over the course of his career, he has crossed many musical genres with his innovative approach to guitar.

His first recording occurred in 1966 with the release of
Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite’s Southside Band. Charlie gave Harvey his nickname, The Snake, as Charlie was enamored with the way Harvey’s hands “snaked” their way up and down the frets. Harvey has continued to use that nickname ever since with many “snake” titled albums since. Harvey released his first solo album, Cristo Redentor, in 1968. he continued releasing solo albums, but in 1969 fate had him in the dressing room at the Fillmore West the night Henry Vestine quit Canned Heat. Harvey joined the group on stage for the second set of their performance. Harvey stayed with the group, touring for a year including their performance at Woodstock and recorded on three albums with them. Harvey and Canned Heat’s bassist, Larry Taylor, left the group and joined John Mayall’s band, touring for two years and releasing two albums. In 2009, Harvey joined with Larry Taylor and Fito de la Perra in a Canned Heat reunion tour.

When Mick Taylor left The Rolling Stones, Harvey was invited to audition as his replacement. While not getting the permanent position, he did record the lead guitar on the song “Hot Stuff” and backing guitar on “Memory Motel” on the Stones’ album Black and Blue. Over the years, Harvey has continued to play with many other great musicians Barry Goldberg, Mike Bloomfield, Jimmy Witherspoon and even briefly with the guitar oriented 60’s band, The Ventures.

His catalog shows approximately 30 solo albums released over the years. Harvey has never been a singer, instead preferring to let his guitar speak for him. Harvey went through some medical issues and was languishing in his bed when his co-producer challenged him to write new music. He said, “That was the spark that got me up to make music again. I must admit that technically, playing-wise, it is definitely some of the best I have ever played. I’ve recorded ten songs all imagined in my head during my medical nightmare”. The result is this new release from Harvey.

“Weather The Storm” opens the album with a jazzy, fuzzed romp with Dan Fischer on keyboards, Steve Nevets on bass, Joel Treadwell on drums with additional guitars by Steve Hausheer and Steve Torries. David Allen on keyboards, Nick Kitsos on drums and Klem on bass joins Harvey for the next three songs and again on track 6. “Puppy Love” moves into a mix of psychedelia and electronics. “I’m Back Boogie” places him squarely into modern blues rock with David’s organ sailing along side of his guitar.

Harvey has his guitar crying on “World News Blues” and perhaps with a brief wail. “Eye of the Snake” is an upbeat number with Pete Sears on keyboards and Dick Bright on violin and Harvey playing on all other instruments. That group also plays on the final three songs on the album. Dick’s violin brings another world presence to the sound. “Pumpin'” moves back into a jazz mode with Nick Kitsos’s pounding out a rhythm.

The first song’s group returns for the title song, “Snake Walk”. Harvey’s guitar slithers through the music with Dan’s keyboards quietly falling in behind the sound. “Freak of Dawn” jumps out with a blazing guitar with Pete’s keyboards penetrating the music. “Never Die” continues his sound fusion with Dick’s violin cascading in and out. The album concludes with “Cashmere”, another swirling array of guitar blasts punctuated by Pete’s keyboards and Dick’s violin.

Harvey has made a career of innovative and pioneering guitar techniques. He has not backed off his direction with this latest album. It is filled with progressive rock and jazz continuing his exploration of original sounds with the previously mentioned psychedelia blended into many of the songs. Comparison to albums by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai come to mind.