Punchy 1983 live set from blues legend
This 1983 live set showcases B.B. King in Cannes, France, backed by a tight, powerful band led by trumpeter Calvin Jones. Fitting their set into a jazz festival program that included Pat Metheny and Dave Brubeck, King’s orchestra, with a full horn section and a diesel-powered rhythm section (uncredited in the liner notes), took the opportunity to stretch their arrangements. The eleven minute opener, “B.B.’s Theme,†is a testament to the band’s muscular precision, and it’s only a warm-up for the introduction of the star himself. King’s guitar is an ample match for the band’s horn-lined kick, starting with the instrumental “Why I Sing the Blues†on which King trades solos with a funked-up bass before jokily segueing into a blue funk riff borrowed from “Dueling Banjos.†Even when taken down-tempo for “Darling You Know I Love You,†the band’s horns provide plenty of punch and Jones’ trumpet serves as a soulful foil to King’s guitar. The set features several King favorites, including “Sweet Little Angel†and the 1970 crossover hit “The Thrill is Gone,†played and sung with plenty of verve. Additional highlights include a moody and pained take of King’s original “All Over Again†and an instrumental arrangement of Jesse Belvin’s “Guess Who?†that includes Stax-like horn accompaniment and a searing muted trumpet solo. The disc closes with a brash take on Louis Jordan’s “Caldonia†and the original “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss.†Acrobat’s release, with a new cover photo and liner notes, plus an “O-card†surrounding a standard jewel box, is a straight-up reissue of Fabulous’ like-titled (and now out-of-print) 2003 import. Between song banter is omitted by fading tracks just before or after the audience applause begins, but any sense of stitching is completely overpowered by the set’s energy. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com] 