The first time I ever got up close and personal with Texas style electric blues was introducing Stevie Ray Vaughan at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1985. I already knew what he was capable of, but it was amazing to experience his blues power live, those blistering guitar runs and the razor sharp picking that had the crowd on its feet halfway through the first song. That tradition of muscular roadhouse guitar coupled with strong, soulful vocals comes alive thanks to the dynamic duo of Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King on their debut Alligator CD , Blood Brothers.
Smokin' Joe has been honing his craft since the age of 14, when his prowess on the guitar earned him steady gigs at Dallas night clubs as well as leading his own band. Kubek became a close friend of Stevie Ray's as well as rubbing elbows with blues legends like Albert King and B.B. King, even getting a rare opportunity one night to play B.B.'s famous guitar - Lucille. "When times got hard," Kubek recalls, " I always remembered how B.B. had given me some encouragement."
Smokin' Joe met up with Bnois King at a Dallas jam session in 1989. King hails from Delhi, LA. where he was introduced to the guitar by his high school music teacher. Bnois recalls his first meeting with the blues on "Coleman Avenue" one of the stand out tracks on Blood Brothers . King's wistful vocals evoke those early days, coupled with the realization that his life has been dedicated to the blues since then.
Kubek and King cut their first CD for Bullseye Blues in 1991, and started touring nationwide, eventually racking up more than 150 nights a year including gigs in Canada and Europe. "Don't Lose My Number" , another spine straightening cut from Brothers , is a testament to their status as "roads" scholars, combining Kubek's relentless, take-no-prisoners slide guitar with King's clear, commanding vocal. Both of these virtuoso players bring distinctive playing styles to their (almost) 20 year collaboration. As Smokin' Joe puts it: " I pull the blues out of him (Bnois) and he pulls the jazz out of me."
Blood Brothers features 13 original tracks including "My Dog's Still Walkin'" music with a message that Kubek and King can still rock the house, "Flamethrower", and "Freezer Burn" - just to name a few. It might be a good idea to pick up a copy because chances are pretty good that Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King won't be back in the studio anytime soon. They're out doing what they do best - moving from roadhouse to concert stage to any hall big enough to hold blues aficionados, proving every night that Texas blues power is alive and well and still kicking. For more info, go to http://www.alligator.com/
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