Danny Gatton-Unfinished Business (telecaster blues) EAC FLAC

I'm on a Danny Gatton kick right now after reading the biography of this brilliant but tortured soul who was either blessed or cursed with a musical ability that was very nearly unequalled by any player from any style or era. The only ones as far as I'm concerned to be in the same league are Charlie Christian, one of his idols, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, another huge influence, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. And on a good night I believe Danny could have outplayed them all, but I have to reserve the right to change my mind because all could be brilliant in their own way. Suffice it to say there is a very small cadre of the very best of the best, and Gatton is one of them.
Fortunately Gatton recorded a lot of material that went unreleased or died in obscurity but because his music has rekindled interest in him, his earlier stuff has been released and remastered for new audiences. "Unfinished Business" is, like all his work, except for "New York Stories", which stayed firmly in a jazz format with a stellar cast, practically a 48 minute excursion into more musical styles that are uniquely American than you can name, and sometimes all at the same time, giving him that feel of nitty gritty early rock, jazz, and some picking that one cannot believe can be pulled off with only four fingers on the fretting hand.
"Nit Pickin'" is a furious homage to his musical heroes, referencing for example the intro to "Mystery Train", a nod toward Les Paul, and bits and pieces of other tunes thrown into a jam that shouldn't be played outside if you live in an area where there is a red flag warning.
We get a reading of the Jackie Gleason tune and theme "Melancholy Serenade" with achingly beautiful passages and sustain that remind one of his (Gatton's) "Harlem Nocturne". "Sky King", which first appeared here, is close to the reworking on "Cruisin' Dueces", but without organ. "Homage to Charlie Christian" is a smoking affair, bringing to our attention the tremendous contribution that first real lead electric guitarist gave us in a tragic two years of recording time with Benny Goodman before succumbing to tuberculosis at a criminally young 21 years of age. Christian didn't play with the speed of Gatton, but his phrasing, tone and style truly defined what would be the critical foundation for all lead electric guitar work for jazz, blues and rock music.
"Sleepwalk" gets the Gatton treatment, and my favorite, at least humorously is "Fingers on Fire", an old chestnut that will make your jaws hit the floor, the one cut that rivals Danny's equally astonishing version of "Orange Blossom Special". Also a tribute to Les Paul, this time redoing "Cherokee", and as a surprise tune after "Notcho Blues", an early version of "Quiet Village", although I prefer the much more polished take on "88 Elmira Street".
It's so sad this man, who suffered in all likelihood from several manic depression and eventually killed himself in 1994, didn't get the acclaim he deserved. It's good that we guitarists know and love him, but it's time for non-musicians to listen to this incredible genius. I would probably recommend "88 Elmira St." or maybe "Portraits" first, but it doesn't really matter as they are all brilliant.