Kirk Fletcher

Guitar-esset og sangeren Kirk Fletcher, er riktig nok amerikansk, men holder til i Switz for tiden. Til trods for han er ikke mere end 46 år gammel, har han alligevel været involveret så længe og så meget, at man kunne tro, at han allerede var i veteranklassen.
Han er født i Californien og fik som ung foden indenfor på den lokale West Coast blues-scene. Han udgav sit første album, »I’m here & I’m gone«, i 1999 på JSP Records, og snart kunne han også høres på plader med blandt andre Lynwood Slim og James Harman.
Derefter var det turnering i tre år med Charlie Musselwhite og via Hollywood Fats-sangeren Al Blake kom Kirk Fletcher i kontakt med The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ frontman Kim Wilson, og Fletcher turnerede og indspillede både med The Fabulous Thunderbirds og Kim Wilson’s Blues Revue gennem en lang årrække.

Senere sluttede Kirk Fletcher sig til allstar-bandet The Mannish Boys, samtidig med at han selv fortsatte som solist og bandleder. I alt har Kirk Fletcher udsendt seks albums i eget navn, senest, »My blues Pathway«, fra oktober 2020. Kirk Fletchers største musikalske forbillede er B.B. King, men Fletcher har også efterhånden selv oparbejdet et ry som bluesguitarist af høj klasse. Han har været nomineret til fem Blues Music Awards, og han er fortsat flittigt anvendt som studie- og livemusiker af andre stjerner. Blandt andet kan Kirk Fletcher høres på Joe Bonamassas live-plader »Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks« og »Live at the Greek Theatre«.
Dette er en kunstner, der tænker langt ud over de traditionelle bluesrødder. Langt forbi Robert Johnson. Det er jazzguitar, det er fusion, det er soul, det er latino mooves og det er progressiv rock’n roll. Lydbilledet er som en lounge med satin og silkebeklædning, men nerven dæmpes ikke af den grund. Soultraditionerne har ramt en akkord i de senere år, og de blues-kunstnere der blander funk og soul, er sikkert dem, der vil styre scenen i de kommende år. I den forstand er Kirk Fletcher i det næste niveau.
Kirk Fletcher har flere gange tidligere besøgt Danmark. Han spillede bl.a. på Frederikshavn Bluesfestival i 2014.

Kirk Fletcher has a reputation as a bonafide can’t-miss performer. His soulful playing and singing never fail to elicit chills, and his unique approach to Rhythm & Blues music is both refreshingly modern and completely authentic.

Widely considered one of the best blues guitarists in the world, he has commanded the respect and acclaim of critics, peers, and fans across the globe. He is a five-time Blues Music Award and a 2015 British Blues Award nominee and has played with a variety of popular artists, including Joe Bonamassa,  and was the lead guitarist of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

He released four studio albums and a live album. His new CD will be released in September 2020.

EARLY YEARS

Kirk first picked up a guitar at age eight, playing alongside his older brother Walter in their father’s church. One day with his older brother, Kirk visited a small L.A. guitar shop, Music Works, which ultimately became his second home after meeting Jeff Rivera, Robben Ford’s guitar tech. “We started hanging out and I would help load gear, change strings and just be a fly on the wall to some of the most amazing music I’ve ever heard,” Kirk remembers.

KIRK’S BLUES

It was in the next few years that Kirk’s full introduction to traditional blues occurred. He started seeking out other musicians who shared this same understanding – enter Al Blake, lead singer and harp player for the Hollywood Fats Band. After hosting dinner every Sunday, Al would offer Kirk early 20th Century blues records as dessert. He also helped establish connections to other famous West Coast blues artists like Junior Watson and Richard “Lynwood Slim” Duran. So followed Kirk’s first gigs as a blues guitarist and eventually the recording of his first album I’m Here & I’m Gone for the JSP label out of England.

Al Blake would also introduce Kirk to Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Wilson brought Fletcher further into the blues family from California to Texas and then out touring the world. One highlight during this time was at Antone’s Night Club 25th Anniversary Week in Austin, Texas, which gave Kirk the opportunity to perform with his blues heroes Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin. Wilson also tapped Kirk to play on his Grammy-nominated Smokin’ Joint live album. Shortly thereafter a call to collaborate came from blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, confirming that Kirk was becoming one of the most in-demand blues guitarists on the scene.

HIS TURN

So began three years on the road with the Thunderbirds. Kirk contributed to the Thunderbirds’ Paint It On album and time spent with many famous blues artists along the way, including a brief stint with the late Doyle Bramhall Sr. and a few guest appearances playing for Cindi Lauper, Michelle Branch and a world tour with Italian mega-star Eros Ramazzotti. Kirk more recently has been part of two projects with close friend Joe Bonamassa Muddy Wolf at Redrocks and the Grammy nominated Live at the Greek Theatre.