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Smokin' Joe Kubek
Despite fifteen years of incendiary shows and nearly nonstop touring, Joe Kubek and Bnois King's tenth release is, amazingly, their first live recording. "My Heart's In Texas," issued on CD and DVD, documents a blazing New Year's Eve set at the legendary J&J Blues Bar in Ft. Worth, Texas. The holiday cheer and roadhouse ambiance make for a uniquely satisfying taste of Joe and Bnois' trademark Texas blues.
There's no question why they gave Joe Kubek the nickname "Smokin'." He's one of the hottest electric guitar players on the blues scene today. Kubek has the technique and the chops to burn up any stage and has been doing so since the 1970's when he began frequenting the Dallas bar scene, playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan and people like the three Kings, B. B., Albert and Freddie. He settled into playing rhythm guitar behind Freddie King for a while, until King's death in December 1976.
Kubek didn't hit his stride, however, until he teamed up with jazz guitarist and singer Bnois King (no relation to Freddie) of Monroe, Louisiana, in 1989. This union began during a regular Monday-night gig in Dallas when Kubek invited King to sit in and found that King's softer, jazz-based guitar and vocals perfectly complemented Kubek's headier rock-inspired guitar work. The combination just clicked, resulting in a tasteful blending of differing styles with satisfying, fiery results.
The two formed a band and have been playing, touring, and recording together ever since. "We've pretty much been on the road since the first album came out -- we go home for a minute and get back out on the road again," Kubek says. "We've been traveling steady for a little over fifteen years now... but I count my blessings. A lot of people can't do this. It's rough sometimes but it's a neat thing to be able to do."
Joe and Bnois are a study in opposites. The two come from differing musical backgrounds - Kubek was raised on sweaty Texas blues while King has a love for jazz and R&B. Kubek explodes on stage with a blazing blues/rock style born from the guitar traditions of Texas. King finesses fat chords with a hollow body Gibson and belts out blues with his whisper-to-growl voice, his sound rooted in the jazz tradition of Louisiana.
Together, they form a musically intuitive partnership, complementing each other in a dynamic musical tour de force. Blues Revue has stated, "King's jazzy guitar work is the perfect foil to Kubek's more incendiary style. They are simply the best guitar tandem on the scene today." Guitar One magazine observed, "King's jazzman style and soulful vocals have proved the perfect complement to Kubek's full-bore guitar attack and fat, natural tone."
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Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King: Blood Brothers
![Read "Blood Brothers" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/2008/bnoisking_joekubeck.jpg)
by Chris M. Slawecki
Joe Kubek moved to Texas and played backup for bluesmen of both local and national renown (including Texas legend Freddie King) before he turned 20. He met Louisiana native Bnois King at a blues jam session in Dallas. The two quickly realized that their individual slashing blues styles would make one powerhouse combination guitar sound and have performed together for the two decades since. I pull the blues out of him and he pulls the jazz out of me," Kubek ...
read moreSmokin' Joe Kubek featuring Bnois King: Bite Me!
![Read "Bite Me!" reviewed by Ed Kopp](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/edkopp100b.jpg)
by Ed Kopp
Smokin' Joe Kubek (lead guitar) and Bnois King (vocals, second guitar) have been blues collaborators for over a decade now. Kubek is a versatile Dallas-based axeman who favors rock-style guitar effects. Louisiana native King is one of the most tasteful singers ever to front a crunching electric blues band. Unlikely as the Kubek-King partnership seemed in the beginning, it has worked very well over the course of nine albums and countless live dates. Bite Me! is a typical ...
read moreSmokin: Bite Me!
![Read "Bite Me!" reviewed by Ed Kopp](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/edkopp100b.jpg)
by Ed Kopp
Smokin' Joe Kubek (lead guitar) and Bnois King (vocals, second guitar) have been blues collaborators for over a decade now. Kubek is a versatile Dallas-based axeman who favors rock-style guitar effects. Louisiana native King is one of the most tasteful singers ever to front a crunching electric blues band. Unlikely as the Kubek-King partnership seemed in the beginning, it has worked very well over the course of nine albums and countless live dates. Bite Me! is a typical ...
read moreSmokin' Joe Kubek Featuring Bnois King: Take Your Best Shot
![Read "Take Your Best Shot" reviewed by Ed Kopp](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/edkopp100b.jpg)
by Ed Kopp
Smokin' Joe is one of the baddest blues guitarists this side of fellow Texan Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Bnois King is one savvy vocalist. Unfortunately, producer Jim Gaines tries to turn Smokin' into a rock star on Take Your Best Shot. Joe's guitar is cranked up too loud and with too much sustain. The intensity of his playing is overwhelmed by the special effects. Even the drums and bass sound distorted. Take Your Best Shot has its enjoyable moments, but ...
read moreSmokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King and James Cotton to Perform in Wilmington
![Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King and James Cotton to Perform in Wilmington](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/Chris_Slawecki.jpg)
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Chris M. Slawecki
SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING AND JAMES COTTON TO PERFORM IN WILMINGTON! FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2011 Event: Riverfront Blues Festival Venue: Tubman-Garrett Riverfront ParkMain Stage Address: South French St. and Water St. Wilmington, DE Phone: 302-376-6298 Ticket price: $15-$50, children 12 and under free Website: www.riverfrontbluesfest.com *See website for complete festival line-up and detailed ticket information SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING Showtime 6:45pm JAMES COTTON Showtime 8:30pm SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS KING Raucous, high-energy Texas roadhouse blues-rock. ...
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