Vancouver blues guitarist and songwriter Colin James is one of the few musical chameleons to survive changing style directions, several times in fact over his 15-year career.

This month the multi-Juno winners has a couple of B.C. gigs lined up, starting in Chilliwack at Tornado Joe's on April 23 and the following night in Kelowna.

Then he' off up north to golf in the Arctic for the Peter Gzowski Invitational, followed by a long-awaited family vacation in France.

James has explored the edges of rock, blues, jump swing, and more. His catchy hooks got noticed while opening for people like Stevie Ray Vaughn and later touring with Keith Richards and Bonnie Raitt.

Lately he's been moving back to his rocking blues roots and he's working on his Ninth recording. He flew home from LA this week, where he's been laying down tracks for the so far untitled new CD. But he had to head right out to the studio after flying in to shoot a Chris Isaak Show episode with Cyndi Lauper.

Not bad for a kid growing up in Saskatchewan. He says he knew at the age of about eight that music would be his life.

The guitar player started off playing Celtic music because he had so many friends who liked to play fiddle and mandolin.

Now he's heading to California in May to play the San Diego Blues, Festival with Buddy Guy, and opening with Ziggy Marley in the House of Blues.

Main reasons for getting up in the morning?
So many things. I love my family and my kids. That's enough right there. But I also still enjoy playing music. I live for it and it's my everything, my raison d'etre. I love the process, to start from scratch writing the first chords, then going all the way through the process until you have the record in your hand. I go through so many highs and lows, whether alone in my head on a plane. Or the tense moments when I have a tiff with a producer, or when you're done and you panic. At one point you have to forget about it all and just let it all go.

What artists was last played on your stereo?
I really like Shelby Lynne and Macy Gray, I can't wait for her next album. Lucinda Williams would have to be the last one I played. I was also at a listening party for her new album. Kathleen Edwards is something. I saw her show last night it was really good.

Do you think you have a Canadian sensibility?
I never think of that. I like all kinds of music. When I'm in the States through, I'll listen to NPR (National Public Radio) to keep in touch and to hear CBC's As it Happens. It's such a great news show.

Where are you at musically these days?
I chose to work with producer Mark Howard (Daniel Lanois, Bob Dylan) for very particular reasons. Part of it is that he goes more for ambient sounds and likes to layer them. It's a very different approach and he likes rough edges. I'm very picky and I don't like flat notes. I don't like to leave ragged edges, but he does.

Was it tough to make it playing blues?
On the American blues scene, it's a very nichey world. So it's neat that a lot more people know my name. I can go down there to Ft. Lauderdale and other festivals and I've still a lot more playing left in me. Been around long enough, my name has gained some recognizability. In the U.S. blues world, it's starting to cross that line where I'm getting invites.

Are there any drawbacks to being known as a chameleon?
Not really. Being able to move around is like being an actor playing different roles. As an artist you grow and change too over time. When people see me live these days, it's not that different from what they'd expect to hear. It's great that fans have always come along for the ride.

How do you stay healthy while on the road?
I run every second day. A lot of the band members run too. Nice thing about it is you can run anywhere in the world. Played a Norwegian blues festival last spring. Got to the hotel and had already covered lots of ground and could tell people where the dry cleaners were. In LA, I ran whenever I could. I've been going to the gym for a while. I don't eat at McDonalds or Burger King or anything like that. Just try to eat as healthy as I can.

Tim Hortons or Starbucks?
Starbucks. I like strong coffee. French roast is my favorite. Except for some Scientology links I heard about. I heard Kenny G is a half-owner. But I don't like flavoured coffee at all. You can just chuck that hazelnut stuff right out the window as far as I'm concerned.

Goya or Warhol?
Goya.

In studio or touring?
Recording. You work on the record and work it and work it, and then you realize you have to get a whole wack of songs together. Right now I think I'm coming into my own as a songwriter. I've got a lot more confidence and I have a lot more to say, so I find I can really enjoy the process. As I get older I find I don't have to search too hard for the subject matter. I have to keep playing along the way, too.

How do you get to that "musical place" that gets you excited?
Both on stage and in studio. My band members are usually very good friends, so that helps. Moments on stage when everyone clicks is what we live for. I'm always amazed just to play and make a living this way. I'm just very thankful.