Playing the Undiluted Blues : Kim Wilson Wants to Keep the Original Spirit of the Music Alive

The irony of the blues revival that has been building momentum in this country for the last few years is that the efforts of contemporary blues musicians, largely a generic and uninspired lot, tend not to warrant the enthusiasm that was denied the music’s creative forebears. Many deceased progenitors of modern blues--such idiosyncratic geniuses as Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Elmore James--labored in relative obscurity during their lifetimes, and their music remains unfamiliar to many of today’s blues fans.

One man out to keep the original spirit of the music alive is Kim Wilson, who’ll play Sunday night at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. On his just-released album “Tiger Man,” Wilson demonstrates a healthy knowledge of and affinity for traditional blues (see accompanying review).

As front man of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the veteran blues-rock group from Texas, Wilson is well known for his vocal and harmonica work (the band’s hits include “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up”). With “Tiger Man,” he reaffirms his formidable roots.

“It’s a real pure, straight blues album with a lot more harmonica than the Thunderbirds,” he noted during a recent phone interview. “There’s no rock ‘n’ roll. This is something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s definitely traditional-based.”

Many of the musicians Wilson brought together for the project (some of whom also are backing him on tour) have valued reputations of their own in blues circles: guitarist Duke Robillard and drummer Fran Christina from the Thunderbirds, ex-Blasters pianist Gene Taylor and Los Angeles-based guitarist Junior Watson.

“I got together with a bunch of guys who were modern-day traditional players. I didn’t want guys playing things straight off old records or anything like that. I wanted guys with their own outlook on things, and I’m really happy with the results.”

Still, enthused as he is over his new project, Wilson was quick to assert that it isn’t coming at the expense of his commitment to the Thunderbirds. The group, based in Austin, has been together for 20 years (although numerous personnel changes have altered its sound frequently) and Wilson said he’s got too much “time and emotion” invested in the group to walk away from it now.

The ‘Birds recorded a number of interesting but largely ignored albums before scoring in 1986 with the “Tuff Enuff” album and single, produced by Britrocker Dave Edmunds.

“We always thought that would happen,” Wilson said. “You get used to a certain scenario in this business where a lot of the best guys don’t even get record deals and stuff like that, but we did a hybrid version of a lot of different kinds of American music which seemed to work for a lot of people. Plus, Edmunds’ production really helped to make it radio-friendly.”

Since their commercial heyday, the Thunderbirds have fallen back into journeyman status; there has been no follow-up success to match “Tuff Enuff,” and the retirement of founding guitarist Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie Ray’s brother) from the group a few years back left a void some fans find unfillable (even though his slot was occupied ably by Robillard, an esteemed jazz-blues veteran. Robillard recently left the group as well and has been replaced by Taylor on piano).

But, Wilson said, the Thunderbirds are on the verge of signing a new record deal. He anticipates a new release in the spring.

The real treat for longtime followers of the band, though, could be the eventual release of some little-known recordings taped by the original lineup back in 1975, with Doc Pomus producing. According to Wilson, the group laid down 40 tracks with Pomus in one marathon eight-hour session.

* Kim Wilson’s Blues All Stars featuring Junior Watson, Gene Taylor and Richard Innes play Sunday night at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Show time: 8 p.m. Rod & the Pistons and Sam & the Moonlighters open. Tickets: $16.50. Information: (714) 496-8930.

Faithful to the Funky ‘50s Kim Wilson, “Tiger Man” Antone’s Records *** Abandoning the sometimes forced hybridization employed by the Fabulous Thunderbirds of blues with rock and soul sensibilities, singer/harmonica player Kim Wilson has come up with an almost militantly traditional album as his first effort apart from the group. Joined by such like-minded as pianist Gene Taylor and guitarists Duke Robillard and Junior Watson, Wilson comes off like a time-frozen refugee from a 1950s Chess recording session. With what sound like ancient Fender amps with blown speakers and bad tubes, the band effectively recaptures the primal sound and funky spirit of classic Chicago blues. The material is mostly obscure old gems written by such figures as Willie Dixon, Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Roosevelt Sykes, but Wilson himself contributes a pair of Little Walter-inspired instrumental rave-ups that are among the highlights of this fine album. Though the tone of Wilson’s husky, lived-in vocals complement the material without straining too hard for authenticity, they nonetheless lack the emotional wallop to do these songs justice. But this is compensated for by Wilson’s skillful, moving harmonica work, used to especially great effect on Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Trust My Baby,” a slow and mournful piece that Wilson makes his own. He may be plowing the same old blues field as hundreds of other performers, but Wilson has an instinct and empathy for the essence of the music rarely heard since the era of his mentors.