Kim Wilson is probably best known in the Netherlands as the frontman of the popular blues group Fabulous Thunderbirds. In addition, he has played with greats such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite and Bonnie Raitt in his career. He also made some nice solo albums, of which That's Life from 1994 was the best. The live album Smokin 'Joint is the successor to My Blues from 1997. It
… contains thirteen pieces (including four own compositions) that were recorded on two evenings in 1999 and 2000. Wilson had gathered a bunch of good musicians around him: Rusty Zinn (guitar), Kirk Fletcher (guitar), Mark Stevens (keys), Larry Taylor (bass) and Richard Innes (drums). But what matters to us is of course Kim Wilson's fantastic harmonica game. He steals the show on this CD that, with 74 minutes is admittedly on the long side, but never gets boring. In summary, Smokin 'Joint is just a great album full of delicious, uncomplicated, fat sounding and swinging blues. (MvP) _more
