I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Blues Pathway, from Kirk Fletcher and it's great. Opening with blues rocker, Ain't No Cure For The Downhearted, Kirk Fletcher opens his newest release with a smooth rolling track. Joined by Travis Carlton on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, Jeff Babko on keys, Joe Sublett on sax and Mark Pender on trumpet, Fletchers vocals are crisp and his guitar riffs fluid. Ballad, Love Is More Than A Word, gives Fletcher a nice chance to play and sing in the soul vein. Reinforced on organ by Babko, and with nice horn work, this is a real nice track also giving Fletcher to scream a bit on guitar. Very nice! In the vein of A Thrill Is Gone, funky, Struggle For Grace is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Fletcher's vocals are perfect and his guitar work fluid and gripping. Switching gear into a rolling blues with a organ vamp by Babko and really strong soloing by Fletcher, this is a great change up. Slow blues, Heart So Heavy is another favorite on the release with well phrased lead lines and excellent vocals. Sublett and Trumpet really add nice punctuation but it's Fletcher's attack and BB King like phrasing on the guitar that gives this track drive. Instrumental, D Is For Denny is a cool shuffle with a slick low, mid fretboard melody. This track is almost like a Freddie King design but not exactly. Fletcher takes you for a nice ride with tight drums by David Kida and solid horn support by Sublett and Pender. Wrapping the release is delta style blues, Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal, featuring Fletcher on acoustic guitar and lead vocal and Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica and joined by Josh Smith on National Resephonic Guitar. With solid bones and tight, authentic feel, this is a nice closer for a really strong release.
