Vizztone
Alongside a career as a top sideman to the likes of Joe Bonamassa and Charlie Musselwhite, as well as stints with The Mannish Boys and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kirk Fletcher has been steadily releasing solo albums since 1999. Keep On Pushing is his eighth solo album and his most accomplished yet. He began recording it in 2023, but this was cut short when Kirk suffered a stroke live on stage.
Thankfully, after recovery and therapy he has been able to finish the record. It’s co-produced by Kirk and JD Simo, who also plays guitar and puts together a crack team of Nashville musicians, with Jason Smay on drums and Ron Eoff on bass. They all play live in the studio, and it shows; this record has great feel, it’s authentic and played with real heart. Seven of the ten tracks are covers, and Kirk and JD have found some interesting deep cuts by the likes of Percy Mayfield, Big Bill Broonzy, and T-Bone Walker. Kirk’s early albums featured guest singers, but he has certainly grown as a vocalist, sounding more at home on this album. The opening track is It’s Love Baby, a hit in 1955 for Ruth Brown, followed by one of my favourite tracks; Just A Dream, a great lyric brought to life by an excellent vocal from Kirk.
This establishes the overall atmosphere of the album: a band that really can swing and sounds like it’s been together for years playing in a smokey club, apart from the knowledge that the tracks were done in two takes at most – often only one. Then comes Arthur Crudup’s I’m Gonna Dig Myself A Hole, taken at an energetic pace, before a funky version of Every Dog Has Its Day, which also features fantastic soloing from Kirk. Other highlights are the title track and the instrumental Croke, a slice of west coast jump blues. My favourite track is the slow blues of T-Bone Walker’s Here In The Dark; very evocative with perhaps Kirk’s best vocal performance on the album, together with some emotional guitar work.
A couple more up-tempo numbers might have lifted things, but at the risk of jeopardising the mood of the album. This record has been made in the same way that some of the numbers were originally cut: roll the tape and play. It is an album with a deep affection for these old songs, which will hopefully bring them to a new audience.
PAUL LONG
Exclusive Blues Matters interview
Kirk Fletcher graces the cover of the latest issue of Blues Matters Magazine, where we sit down with him for an in-depth interview about the making of Keep On Pushing, his recovery, and his remarkable journey through blues. Don’t miss it.
