One of the biggest guitarplayers Smokin’ Joe Kubek and his band-partner Bnois King are coming on the 6th of May after many years back to the Czech Republic, to play for us the texas blues and boogie – organised by Prague Intl.Bluenights. Kubek from Pennsylvania lived his childhood in Texas and released his first record in 1985. He also played as a musician in the band of Freddie King. Kubek went on to forge his aggressive guitar style fronting his own band, and backing many legendary blues artists throughout the ’70s and ’80s, including Al “TNT” Braggs, Little Joe Blue, and others. For his debut album he waited till 1991 to come out, all in the Steppin’ Out Texas Style. Kubek was through all his records sticking to the Texas electro blues, which is a little bit changing having the jazz singer and guitarist Bnois King at his side. They just recorded an unplugged album “Close to the Bone”. The magazine Blues Revue said: “They are simply the best guitar tandem on this scene right now.”
Kubek was here the last time in autumn 2005, at the festival Blues Alive in Šumperk. Last year he released a new album “Let that Right Hand Go” with unreleased records from 80s. Influenced by the hard-rocking blues of the ’60s and ’70s, Kubek’s guitar playing smolders with the same fire that burned in the styles of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter, earning him the well-deserved nickname “Smokin’ Joe.” These days, after the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan and in the time, where Jonny Winter is not playing much, is Kubek the king of the texas guitar styl.
