Wilson, Kim - Smokin' Joint
Singer/harmonica player Kim Wilson's first studio album in six years, Lookin' For Trouble is his second release for M.C. Records. His label debut, the 2001 live recording, Smokin' Joint, was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Traditional Blues Album and also picked up four W.C. Handy Blues Award nominations
Kim Wilson is best known as a founding member of the influential American roots band The Fabulous Thunderbirds, a group he continues to lead for both recording and touring.
Wilson's trademark vocals helped The Fabulous Thunderbirds garner a Grammy nomination and such groundbreaking hits as »Tuff Enough« and »Wrap It Up.«
Lookin' For Trouble is a showcase for Wilson at his best as a singer, songwriter and harmonica player. The studio sessions feature his regular touring band of Troy Gonyea on guitar, Mark Stevens on keyboards and Jon Ross on bass. The album was recorded in two sessions at the beginning and end of 2002, the first with Steve Ramsey on drums, the second with Richard Innes. Guest horns on several tracks are performed by »Sax« Gordon Beadle on tenor sax, Doug James on baritone sax and Scott Aruda on trumpet.
The new album features nine songs either written or co-written by Wilson, including two versions of the title song, one done as a blues shuffle and the second as a rock 'n' roll tune. In addition, Kim puts his unique stamp on five cover tracks: the Willie Dixon classic, »Love My Baby,« Dave Bartholomew's »Hook Line and Sinker,« Jimmy Rogers' »Money Marble and Chalk,« Snooky Pryor's »Tried To Ruin Me« and L.C. McKinley's »Down With It.« Throughout the CD, he displays a mastery of blues styles, ranging from Chicago and West Coast sounds to Memphis and New Orleans-infused blues.
Kim Wilson played a major part in the all-star blues concert filmed at Radio City Music Hall that will be featured in the upcoming multi-part series on the blues produced by Martin Scorsese, which will air in the fall of 2003 on PBS. In addition to his regular touring schedule with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kim will support the release of Lookin' For Trouble with a series of club and concert appearances.
Kim Wilson first came to national prominence in the late '70s when he and his band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, came roaring out of Austin, Texas to inspire a whole generation of roots oriented musicians. His authoritative singing and peerless instrumental virtuosity not only enthrall the crowds that flock to his performances, but also have set a standard, which continues to inspire and challenge musicians around the world.
Born in Detroit in 1951, he grew up in California and fell under the sway of the blues in the late 60s, honing his chops under the tutelage of people like George Smith, Luther Tucker and Peewee Crayton. After a brief time leading a band of his own around the Minneapolis area, he moved to Austin, Texas in 1974 and formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds with guitarist Jimmy Vaughan. While ensconced as the house band at Clifford Antone's famous Austin blues club, they played with virtually all the stars in the blues firmament - Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Eddy Taylor, Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy and many others, and the word soon spread that there was a band down in Austin that was laying down some of the toughest blues ever heard. Muddy Waters, himself, called Kim, »The greatest harmonica player to come along since Little Walter.« As their reputation spread, they began to record and tour around the country to ever increasing crowds. They continue to this day despite a number of personnel changes over the years. The one constant has been the dynamic presence of Kim Wilson out front.
In the last few years, Kim began establishing a dual track for his career: one that would allow him to showcase his skills in a more purely traditional blues setting and give him an opportunity to stretch out instrumentally.
Aside from his own projects, he is in much demand as a contributor to the music of others and he has lent his sound to the recordings of artists like Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana and many others. His own songs have been part of the soundtracks for major motion pictures as well as several national commercials and he has garnered Grammy nominations for both his worldwide R&B hit, »Tuff Enuff,« and his instrumental tour de force, »Down at Antone's.«
A true road warrior, he thrives on a touring schedule that approaches 300 days a year as he brings his music to fans worldwide, whether it be at the most prestigious music festivals around the globe or in the kinds of funky clubs in which his talents were originally forged. He enjoys them all. Don't miss him when he comes to your town!
Kim Wilson is best known as a founding member of the influential American roots band The Fabulous Thunderbirds, a group he continues to lead for both recording and touring.
Wilson's trademark vocals helped The Fabulous Thunderbirds garner a Grammy nomination and such groundbreaking hits as »Tuff Enough« and »Wrap It Up.«
Lookin' For Trouble is a showcase for Wilson at his best as a singer, songwriter and harmonica player. The studio sessions feature his regular touring band of Troy Gonyea on guitar, Mark Stevens on keyboards and Jon Ross on bass. The album was recorded in two sessions at the beginning and end of 2002, the first with Steve Ramsey on drums, the second with Richard Innes. Guest horns on several tracks are performed by »Sax« Gordon Beadle on tenor sax, Doug James on baritone sax and Scott Aruda on trumpet.
The new album features nine songs either written or co-written by Wilson, including two versions of the title song, one done as a blues shuffle and the second as a rock 'n' roll tune. In addition, Kim puts his unique stamp on five cover tracks: the Willie Dixon classic, »Love My Baby,« Dave Bartholomew's »Hook Line and Sinker,« Jimmy Rogers' »Money Marble and Chalk,« Snooky Pryor's »Tried To Ruin Me« and L.C. McKinley's »Down With It.« Throughout the CD, he displays a mastery of blues styles, ranging from Chicago and West Coast sounds to Memphis and New Orleans-infused blues.
Kim Wilson played a major part in the all-star blues concert filmed at Radio City Music Hall that will be featured in the upcoming multi-part series on the blues produced by Martin Scorsese, which will air in the fall of 2003 on PBS. In addition to his regular touring schedule with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kim will support the release of Lookin' For Trouble with a series of club and concert appearances.
Kim Wilson first came to national prominence in the late '70s when he and his band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, came roaring out of Austin, Texas to inspire a whole generation of roots oriented musicians. His authoritative singing and peerless instrumental virtuosity not only enthrall the crowds that flock to his performances, but also have set a standard, which continues to inspire and challenge musicians around the world.
Born in Detroit in 1951, he grew up in California and fell under the sway of the blues in the late 60s, honing his chops under the tutelage of people like George Smith, Luther Tucker and Peewee Crayton. After a brief time leading a band of his own around the Minneapolis area, he moved to Austin, Texas in 1974 and formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds with guitarist Jimmy Vaughan. While ensconced as the house band at Clifford Antone's famous Austin blues club, they played with virtually all the stars in the blues firmament - Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Eddy Taylor, Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy and many others, and the word soon spread that there was a band down in Austin that was laying down some of the toughest blues ever heard. Muddy Waters, himself, called Kim, »The greatest harmonica player to come along since Little Walter.« As their reputation spread, they began to record and tour around the country to ever increasing crowds. They continue to this day despite a number of personnel changes over the years. The one constant has been the dynamic presence of Kim Wilson out front.
In the last few years, Kim began establishing a dual track for his career: one that would allow him to showcase his skills in a more purely traditional blues setting and give him an opportunity to stretch out instrumentally.
Aside from his own projects, he is in much demand as a contributor to the music of others and he has lent his sound to the recordings of artists like Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana and many others. His own songs have been part of the soundtracks for major motion pictures as well as several national commercials and he has garnered Grammy nominations for both his worldwide R&B hit, »Tuff Enuff,« and his instrumental tour de force, »Down at Antone's.«
A true road warrior, he thrives on a touring schedule that approaches 300 days a year as he brings his music to fans worldwide, whether it be at the most prestigious music festivals around the globe or in the kinds of funky clubs in which his talents were originally forged. He enjoys them all. Don't miss him when he comes to your town!
Skrivet av Håkan Olsson
