Kim Wilson - Slow Burn

By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © Nov 2025

Prelude
From the one sheet: "Slow Burn is from two separate sessions, one in 2014 and the other in 2020. None of its twelve songs have ever been released before. This may be Kim's deepest blues record ever as he covers legends like B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Robert Nighthawk, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, with four songs being Kim Wilson originals".

From Kim: "As many of you know, I have been accumulating my blues performances for many years. The tracks on this album are very special because several of the songs include some of the last performances by three great blues giants, Richard Innes, Larry Taylor, and Barrelhouse Chuck".

Review
On Slow Burn, Kim Wilson - on vocals and harmonica - is joined by Nathan James on guitar and bass; Billy Flynn, Bob Welsh, and Jon Atkinson on guitar; Barrelhouse Chuck on piano; Richard Innes, Marty Dodson, and Malachi Johnson on drums; Larry Taylor and Troy Sandow on bass; and Johnny Viau on horns.

The disc opens with "I'm Trying", a cover of a Little Milton song that goes back some sixty-five years. Right out of the gate, Johnny's horns and Chuck's piano intro will have you tappin' your foot and bobbin' your head within seconds. Then once Nathan joins in on guitar, the rest of the rhythm kicks in and Kim start's belting out his patented smooth, soulful and very recognizable vocals, things really start swinging.

Billy Flynn's stinging guitar notes that open "Sweet Little Angel" leave absolutely no doubt that you're listening to a B.B. King song; and the slow and low-down rhythm that Richard (drums) and Larry (bass) are laying down behind some crazy good high end, right hand ticklin' of the ivories by Chuck, leave no doubt that you are about to hear some slow blues at its very, very best. Vocally, with this being the kind of stuff Kim's voice was made to sing, it's needless to say his vocal performance is masterful. Being someone who everyone's tried to emulate on guitar, none can do B.B. like Billy. Hands down the disc's best track for me.

On one of his originals titled "Boogie In E", with Richard (drums), Larry (Bass) and Chuck (piano) in a tight, aggressive rhythm groove behind him, Kim just takes this instrumental and runs with it. If you've ever seen one of his shows where he gets into a killer harmonica solo, that actually gets you out of breath while he tirelessly keeps blowing like hell, this is one of those performances.

Paying homage to the Wolf, Kim does some howlin' of his own - both vocally and with his harp - on "Howlin' For My Darlin'" (Chester Burnett). Once again, it's the terrific trio of Richard, Larry and Chuck laying down terrific rhythm and Billy working his magic on guitar.

"The Time Has Come" (Robert Nighthawk) is another slow blues masterpiece. As with the last one, Billy opens it up with more of his piercing blues guitar notes and his fabulous guitar work is prominent throughout; the same rhythm maestros are locked into that same slow rhythm groove; and Kim is doing what Kim does best - belting the hell out of the blues with his voice and his harp.

Another track that goes back close to seventy years is one titled "Easy Baby". The song was written by Samuel Maghett but you may know him as Magic Sam. The track is one of the first that features a completely new musical ensemble. This time it's Malachi (drums) and Troy (bass) putting out the laid-back rhythm groove; Bob adding in the soft, silky piano leads; and Jon on the smooth blues guitar leads. Of course, right from the way the words "eeeeeeasy baaaaby" slowly roll out of Kim's mouth, he's once again nailing the vocals.

Another instrumental, an original of Kim's, is titled "Gotta Have A Horse". The tracks aggressive pace is fueled by the galloping rhythm vibe coming from the hands of Marty on the drums and Troy on the bass; and as usual, when there are no vocals involved, Kim's just killing it on the harmonica.

Other tracks on this must have release include: two more of Kim's originals titled "Leaving You On My Mind" and "Lowdown Woman"; "Keep Our Business To Yourself"; "Kansas City"; and a nine-minute rendition of "So Many Roads" (Paul Marshall).

On the album's liner notes, Kim says that "Some of these recordings are too old to be considered for the Grammys, but I had to pay tribute to my friends who aren't with us anymore by releasing them." That said, Slow Burn is indeed eligible for the various blues awards ceremonies that take place each year, and it's my thought that you should expect to see it on some - especially the one's that have a "Historical Recording" category.

To find out more about Slow Burn, just go to - www.mc-records.com. As usual, please remember to say The Blewzzman sent you.