Kirk Fletcher
Shades of Blue
(Crosscut 11076)
Kirk "Eli" Fletcher is one of the most promising young
talents to emerge on the blues scene in recent years. Having grown up
playing music in his father's Church in Compton, California, Fletcher got
turned onto the blues and received mentoring from players such as Big Al
Blake, Junior Watson and Kim Wilson. Fletcher released his first solo
record on the JSP label several years back and has also appeared on
recordings by Wilson, James Harman and Lynwood Slim. Fletcher has also
toured with Charlie Musselwhite and is currently a member of The Fabulous
Thunderbirds.
The disc opens with an easy swinging instrumental dedicated to
Fletcher's daughter titled "Blues For Boo Boo". The next tune
features the talents of Kim Wilson on vocals and harp on the Eddie Taylor
classic "Bad Boy". Janiva Magness turns in a spirited vocal
performance on Junior Well's "Little By Little" before Wilson
takes things down to the swamp with a cover of Lonesome Sundown's "My
Home Is A Prison". The highlight of the disc is Finis Tasby's vocal
performance on Jimmy Dawkin's "Welfare Blues". This tune sizzles
with intensity. "Club Zanzibar" is an original harp instrumental
inspired by the legendary Chicago blues club and shows that Wilson is
without peer on his instrument and Fletcher is a superb accompanist. Tasby
also turns up on the shuffle "Down Home Woman" and a cover of
Percy Mayfield's "The River's Invitation". "Stranded"
is an old Gatemouth Brown tune done with Wilson on vocals. The disc closes
with the Booker T & The MG's instrumental classic "Hip Hug
Her".
Shades of Blue is a solid effort from start to finish and while it does
break new ground it does display the talents of one of the most promising
guitarists in the blues field and given the contributions of the
supporting cast this disc is highly recommended.
- Barry Gober -
Southwest Blues CD Review - November 2004
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