Kirk Fletcher – My Turn

Eclecto Groove – EGR CD 511.

Californian Kirk Fletcher, one time Fabulous Thunderbirds sideman, has released an eclectic mix of favourite tunes and styles on his session player and friends backed offering “My Turn”. Most notable of the cast are guitarist and producer Michael Landau and bassist Travis Carlton, son of Larry.

Fletcher gives us diverse vocals on two tracks, a country blues version (complete with banjo) of Jimmy Reeds “Found Love” and Sly and the family’s “Let Me Have It All”, which is pretty true to the original style, heavy on the wah wah.

“El Medio Stomp” and “Blues For Antone” (Clifford Antone) give us expert Texas Fender twang - latter and early day SRV respectively – whilst “Natural Anthem” by the late Jesse Edwin Davis, pumps a horn section led Memphis groove.

Paulie Cerra takes vocal duties on “Ain’t No Way”, a smooth big band shuffle a la Ray Charles, and on a beefed up version of the New Orleans traditional, “Congo Square”, which is given a powerful Neville Brothers style with excellent drumming by Tom Fillman.

The title track, “My Turn”, hints at the driving Funk Fusion of the 1970s, and is countered by the more mellow Crusader’s tune “Way Back Home”. The final piece, “Continents End”, pays tribute to another hero, Jimi Hendrix, in his psychedelic pomp.  

It’s difficult to identify one clear direction in this album, but then again, in some ways, that seems to be the point. As a tribute to Kirk’s formative influences, it makes good listening - and the support playing is impressive. The one uniting factor is Fletcher’s guitar, and it’s very hard to find any fault with that.

JBBlue