Kim Wilson - Five Long Years - Killer Chromatic Harmonica

[miloesskater]

That WAS without doubt THE best blues chromatic from a "New Guy" I've ever heard.

Kim is simply amazing here. Wow.

[guywithbighead]

pure blues hurt my soul, fucking awesome!

[JustAintthatWay]

can someone pls hip a non harper to the 'd minor of course' quip?

and t/y for the 'tune to whoever loaded it upward

[BluesGeek]

@JustAintthatWay that's be me who loaded it up,

sounds like a gun or something...haahaa. As for

Kim's comment, most blues chromatic players are

limited to playing the instrument in 3rd position,

which is a whole step below the root key. Also

known as dorian mode. 3RD position harp, weather

its a chromatic or a diatonic harp, is just great for

playing minor blues, so I think thats why he says

Dm, of course. He's playing a C chromatic over the

key of D minor, of course...lol. PEACE

[Ledvolta]

@BluesGeek great post.

[foomsbah]

@JustAintthatWay This style of blues on a chromatic harp is always played in D minor, or second position, if it's a C harp. This is the only blues style that uses the chromatic harp, because the notes can't be bent easily. Instead, it's used to imitate a horn section or a piano. For examples of this, listen to Bobby Bland (I Smell Trouble) (where a piano does this sound), Muddy Waters: The Singles (James Cotton on 'I Got To Love Somebody'), Thunderbirds (In Orbit, from Butt Rockin).

[desmotunes]

For a guy that mostly plays diatonic, he just blows it away with this one.

can't wait to see him with barrel house chuck



[jondreauxlaing]

ugh its freakin' killer!

[BluesGeek]

A horse is a horse of course of course

he'll give the answer that you endorse

he's always on a steady course...

talk to Mr. Ed.

I say drink from the well...

but go straight to the source.

He'll give you the answer that you endorse.

George "Harmonica" Smith

[madogblue]

Thanks man, I didn't realize he playes so much chromatic, I thought he was a "diatonic man"

[BluesGeek]

@madogblue he doesnt play it nearly as much

as the shorties, but when he does, he OWNS it!

I'm sorta pleased that he kept his deep and oh

so soulful chromatic prowless on a low profile

in his early years. A true diamond in the rough.

His LP debut from 79 with the T-birds on the cut

"Pocket Rocket" showed what a tough chromatic

3rd position blues belter he really was...back then.

[mscomb]

this song is on his hard to find album "my blues"

[BluesGeek]

@mscomb you can find it on cd on Ebay.

I picked one up for about 11. on a Buy It Now.

[madogblue]

Any idea what albums Kim plays chromatic on??

[BluesGeek]

@madogblue Girls Go Wild 1979 - Pocket Rocket

Whats The Word 1980 - Last Call For Alcohol

Butt Rockin 1981 - In Orbit

Tigerman 1993 - When The Lights Go Out

& Reel 11 Take 1

My Blues 1997 - 5 Long Years & My Blues

Smokin Joint 2001 - The Lighthouse Is

Gone (This IS THE Shit!)

Lookin For Trouble 2003 - Tortured

[MrTBlues]

this made my day

[argydubbaya]

Gotta break mine out more, good stuff. Check out Rod Piazza if ya love this

[BluesGeek]

@argydubbaya what?...yer pipe? ;))

[JilaX]

He certainly doesn't get enough credit for it.

Listen to "Child Of A Survivor" on the newest Ronnie Earl album...

Mercy!

[ajjs02]

right up to the ending...when he pulls the mic away and keeps playin''' Kim is the Man.... Whoa ... feel it right down deep in my soul....Whao!! Thanx Bluesgeek fr this posting...^_^

[BluesGeek]

@ajjs02 My Extreme pleasure! Be sure to check out

my recently uploaded William Clarke stuff too! ;))

[bartlandstra]

a little over the top i think ( he likes the slide)

Less is more, still counts

Amazing sound for sure!

[BluesGeek]

Its a convention of harp players...

so he brought his A game. Over The Top?

He's using the slide very sparingly...and only

in the approriate natural places for a minor blues.

Hell, he's only using it for the flatted 3rd. There's

tons of other cats who employ the slide frequently.

Then there's the cats who actually, for real, no kidding,

play chromatically.................­................what a concept.

I wish I'd come up with it ;))

[Harpmann]

I've seen Kim play chromatic a few times around the Tigerman album way back, and I think he's a master 1, 2 and 3 position and Chromatic. I have used to play last call for alcohol (T.birds) live for years with my band.

[BluesGeek]

@Harpmann I couldn't agree more...

my brotha from anotha mutha ! ;))

[BluesGeek]

I've always loved his little rap at the intro.

"I hesitate to bring this out amongst you people, so don't hold it against me."

(He's at a harmonica convention...lol)

Then he says "D minor...of course..."

classic.

[DanSolem]

Yo Geek...Thanks for posting this....I agree with you - best on YouTube of the Chrome I've seen...If I come across another I'll put it up....There is a cool one of William Clarke on an old radio program with a different feel that is badass as well...Keep in touch

[BluesGeek]

@DanSolem I recently uploaded a Clarke clip that

equals this as far as Great Chromatic Performance

goes. They're both Exceptional clips and can't really

be compared...except to say, they are both Amazing.

So Kim's gonna have to share the esteemed title I

gave his clip with Bill now...cause I found a killa dilla.

[BluesGeek]

@BluesGeek <<<oops...the clip is called "Chromatic

Crumbs" and it's on my channel uploads... as I cant

seem to paste the url here without an annoying red

"error" prompt.

[abc123gpl]

Wow ! Kim Wilson is much better than i thought !

5 Stars and thx for upping.

[BluesGeek]

@abc123gpl Yea...I've had those same reactions

every time I heard and saw him play since 1981

at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach Ca...with

the T-Birds...and with every recording he's put out.

Now I just expect him to be great ;))

[donschmit]

Powerful emotion on the harp. Tearing my heart out! Haunting. Thanks for the post.

[stickman33]

Very nice! I've been wanting to get a chromatic for some time, listening to different players on here. Anyone know what he's playing? Herings seems to have a nice blues tone.

[BluesGeek]

Kim's using a Hohner Super 64X in this clip.

[DocAlters]

It is and I agree with the cat up top there Stoneharp about Piazza don't forget Walter and George; BG you have great taste thanks for posting

[DocAlters]

Thanks for posting this great to hear him really crooning soulfully and letting the chrome but the edge on it.

[BluesGeek]

Glad u dig it Doc...it's the shit!!!

[ezshooter]

all I have to say is: Oh - My - God!

[BluesGeek]

@ezshooter It is sort of a religious experience...

without the incense or harrasment from krishna's

at the airport...

[ezshooter]

@BluesGeek tell me that! Specially when I'm a chromatic student! :D

[ezshooter]

@BluesGeek tell me that! Specially when I'm a chromatic student! :D

[Stoneharp90]

Awesome. Hard to find such a bluesy sound played on a chrom. Great voice & band as well. U really roll guys, congratulations.

[eosdelb]

Please Kim dont take these videos down. I dont get to come see you. I wish you would come to Greensboro NC. Thanks Bluesgeek

[ollyhock]

excellent

[3star2barProductions]

great description, I appreciate the effort. The video is quite a gem.

[bluedoc0]

Soulful singing and tremendous "Horn from the Heart!"

[excaverbob]

Thanks much for posting this one. It's an appreciated and true treat!

[RobeeMan]

The audio is not that bad!Thank you very much for sharing this great video!He's great on both diatonic and chromatic.

Best wishes!

[StellarChi]

Wow...Wilson Rules...He's Tough Enough !