Kirk Fletcher - I'm Here and I'm Gone

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:1999/2009
Time:75:03 
Size:172,7 MB 
Label:JSP Records 
Styles:Blues/Modern Electric Blues/West Coast Blues/Chicago Blues 
Art:Full 

Tracks Listing:
 1. I Ain't Doing Nothing Wrong -  5:23
 2. What is Going On -  5:02
 3. Church Street Boogie -  4:36
 4. I'm not Your Fool -  7:51
 5. What Heppened to You -  5:03
 6. Shool Street Shuffle -  3:08
 7. Silver Spoon - 10:32
 8. You Went Back on Your Word -  5:29
 9. Mr. Mann -  3:19
10. Bye Bye So Long -  2:49
11. Watsonized -  5:22
12. Worried all the Time -  4:05
13. I Smell Trouble -  4:49
14. Next Time You See Me -  3:26
15. Watsonized -  4:02

This session was recorded with the wonderfully talented Jimmy Morello producing. He utilised the great Pacifica Studio and a great set of regular musicians. The result: a strong and varied album. When this album was cut, Kirk was an unknown young African American blues guitarist who had cut a demo session and wanted to make an album. After hearing the demo over the transatlantic phone lines, label boss John Stedman said 'yes'. Kirk has kindly allowed that demo to be added to this 10th anniversary re-issue of what is now an important album. It kicked off the career of an amazingly talented guitarist who has become the 'first call' for every bandleader on the West Coast and whose solo career proceeds from strength to strength.
West Coast blues guitarist Kirk Fletcher has logged time with everyone from the Fabulous Thunderbirds to Charlie Musselwhite, but in 1999 he kicked off his solo career with I'M HERE AND I'M GONE. Given a 10th-anniversary reissue complete with bonus tracks, the album shows a guitarist who has assimilated the innovations of artists like B.B. King and Buddy Guy and channeled them into something contemporary, with traces of funk and R&B adding some extra groove juice.
 This is an excellent CD and really boasts Kirk's outstanding guitar skills. This guy can really play! If you like hot contemporary electric blues guitar, you should really check him out on this CD or some of his other recordings.
There are several vocalists on this and my preference is for the 4 Jackie Payne tracks, several of which are longer and really give Kirk a chance to stretch out, specifically I'm Not Your Fool and Silver Spoon. John Marx handles vocals on 3 tracks and does a solid job, while Roosevelt Caldwell sang the 4 demo tracks. There are also 4 instrumentals including Mr. Mann ( I assume a tribute to Hollywood Fats) and Watsonized (for Junior Watson?). The 4 demo tracks are also well done with the guitar sound a little more dirty than on the main tracks. I Smell trouble was the highlight of the bonus tracks for me.
Overall, this is excellent contemporary blues featuring an outstanding guitarist. I would probably rate this 4 1/2 stars but that is not an option so I'm going with 4 as I try to reserve the 5 stars for the stuff that really knocks me flat. Definitely recommended.

I'm Here and I'm Gone