Kim Wilson

Slow Burn

M.C. Records

MC Records harmonica player and vocalist Kim Wilson fronts The Fabulous Thunderbirds while also maintaining a solo career. Wilson has eight previous studio albums under his own name, the last being Take Me Back! The Bigtone Sessions in 2020. He is the winner of seven Blues Music Awards, including “Contemporary Male Blues Artist of the Year,” four-time “Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica,” “Traditional Blues Album of the Year,” and “Song of the Year.” Altogether, Wilson has earned forty-two BMA nominations. Produced by Wilson, Slow Burn was recorded live in the studio over five sessions — three in 2014 and two in 2020 — resulting in an all-star lineup with several personnel changes.

Wilson, on harmonica and vocals, fronts an ensemble that includes guitarists Nathan James, Billy Flynn, Jon Atkinson, and Bob Welsh; pianists Welsh and the late Barrelhouse Chuck; bassists the late Larry Taylor and Troy Sandow; and drummers the late Richard Innes and Malachi Johnson. The horns are played by Johnny Viau. Wilson mixes four of his originals with selected covers, making the recording especially exciting. The album is dedicated to Richard Innes, Larry Taylor, and Barrelhouse Chuck.

The album opens with “I’m Trying,” written and first recorded by “Little” Milton Campbell in 1959, as Wilson sings, “I’m trying so hard to get you off my mind, baby I’m trying so hard to get you off my mind,” with Johnny Viau on saxophone, Nathan James on guitar, and Barrelhouse Chuck on piano.

“Leaving You on My Mind” is the first of Wilson’s originals, as he chimes, “Well, I woke up this morning, leaving you on my mind. Well, baby, I got to leave you so far behind… this time I’m gone for good,” featuring Nathan James on slide guitar and Marty Dodson on drums.

“Sweet Little Angel,” written and first recorded by Lucille Bogan in 1930 and famously covered by B.B. King in 1956, finds Wilson chanting, “I got a sweet little angel, I like the way she spread her wings… asked my baby for a nickel, she gave me a twenty-dollar bill,” featuring Billy Flynn on guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck on piano, and Richard Innes on drums.

“Boogie in E” is a breakneck instrumental. “Howlin’ for My Darlin’,” written and recorded by Chester Burnett, aka Howlin’ Wolf, follows as Wilson howls, “Come on home, if you hear me howlin’, callin’ on my darlin’…” hitting those high notes while guitarist Billy Flynn channels Hubert Sumlin, joined by Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and Richard Innes on drums.

“Keep Our Business to Yourself,” written by Rice Miller, aka Sonny Boy Williamson II, features Wilson groaning, “Darlin’, do me a favor, please do me a favor, keep our business to yourself… don’t tell your mother, don’t tell your father, don’t tell your sister or your brother, keep our business to yourself,” with James and Atkinson sharing guitar duties.

“The Time Has Come,” first written and recorded by Robert Nighthawk in 1964, has Wilson moaning, “The time has come, baby, I will say goodbye. I can’t help you, baby, it ain’t no gain to try. I love you, baby, but I don’t believe you love me too. Lord, you went away and left me, that’s the way you do,” with Billy Flynn on guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck on piano, Larry Taylor on bass, and Richard Innes on drums.

“Lowdown Women” is another Wilson original as he cries out, “Lowdown women, lowdown all the time… all she wants to do is walk the streets. Sometimes I wonder, why do I keep that woman on my mind? When I get my paycheck, she’s the nicest woman I could find,” featuring James on guitar, Sandow on bass, and Dodson on drums.

“Easy Baby,” written and first recorded by Samuel Maghett, aka Magic Sam, in 1968, finds Wilson wailing, “Easy baby, easy baby, let me love you night and day. You don’t have to treat me right, squeeze me baby and hold me tight, let me love you night and day,” with Bob Welsh on piano and both Welsh and Atkinson on guitar.

“Gotta Have a Horse” is an original instrumental. “Kansas City,” another song from Robert Nighthawk, features Wilson bursting, “I woke up this morning… gonna move to Kansas City… don’t like my peaches, you can shake my tree… gonna move to Kansas City,” with Flynn on guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck on piano, Larry Taylor on bass, and Richard Innes on drums.

The closer, the nine-minute “So Many Roads,” written and recorded by Otis Rush in 1960, has Wilson crooning, “So many roads, so many trains to ride, I got to find my baby, Lord, before I’ll be satisfied… I was standing at the window when I heard that whistle blow,” featuring James on guitar, Sandow on bass, and Dodson on drums.

Kim Wilson is an accomplished solo recording artist and, in the minds of many, the greatest harmonica player performing today. He has had the opportunity to work with many of his musical heroes, including Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Big Walter Horton, and Eddie Taylor. He has also recorded with legendary rock musicians such as Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Mark Knopfler, and Paul Simon. With a career that spans fifty-five years, he has truly done it all. Kudos to the greatest harp player of my generation.

Richard Ludmerer

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