Am I the only one here who LOVES BB King?

[Flaxbee]

I've seen him twice live, once in San Diego at an outdoor festival, and once at The Blue Note in NYC where he and his band just blew the freaking socks off everyone there. I've never heard anything like it, except perhaps Ray Charles live.

Anyway - Blues Summit is one of his best CDs, and includes his duets with Katie Webster (Since I Met You Baby), Koko Taylor (Something You Got), Etta James (There's Something On Your Mind - holy crap she can sing), Ruth Brown (You're the Boss) - and then Little by Little with Lowell Fulson.

It doesn't get much better than that.

[hippywife]

1. Never got to see him live yet

but I was just listening to "Riding With the King" tonight while doing some holiday baking.

Definitely love the man!

[Flaxbee]

2. I think he tours at least half of each year...

he's best in small venues, if you can see him in a club instead of an amphitheater.... the "Blues Summit" disk is so enjoyable b/c you get to hear other blues greats, esp. some of the women who have voices to die for...

[hippywife]

3. He comes here about once a year

but I can't afford the tickets.

Thanx for the rec on the Blues Summit recording.

You might want to check this one out. Truly excellent:

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Blues-Album-World-Ever/dp/B00004LMKJ/sr=8-1/qid=1166672039/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1498894-7370563?ie=UTF8&s=music

[Flaxbee]

7. thanks! I love John Hammond, who's on the disk, too...

I'll check it out!

Damn, I know. I saw BB when I was rolling in $$, working in NYC. Now I don't bother unless I know it's a small venue and I won't be stuck wayyyy in the back.

[SeattleGirl]

4. I love BB King!

Never seen him live, but I love his music.

[SoyCat]

5. B.B. King is playing HOB NOLA February 3rd and I want to go so badly--but I can't afford it.

The tickets are $130 each because it's an open bar event/13th anniversary.

It's just not fair!

[Flaxbee]

9. shit, when did tickets get to be so $$$?

He's worth it, but it really excludes a lot of people at that price. You should write him via his website ( www.bbking.com ) and see if they ever have extras for those of us who don't have an extra $130 hanging around...

[SoyCat]

14. Oh, it's not him. It is the crazy way that the 13th anniversary

of the New Orleans House of Blues is being done. They think that an open bar is some kind of draw. Please. Like we actually need any kind of inducement to go see B.B. King! Idiots with money will drink themselves silly and won't even pay attention to the music. Heck, I see people do it at every show I attend there.

I'll see him eventually--one way or another!

[Flaxbee]

15. yeah, I should have realized HOB --

they're a racket. I always avoided shows at the one in LA just b/c it seemed so... insincere or something.

See him soon, though. He's not getting any younger! ;-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. I love his tone, especially...

It'd be great to see him perform live...

[Flaxbee]

11. he has another duet album, where he's singing with Mick

Jagger, and while I really like The Rolling Stones, etc. etc., BB's voice is SO MUCH richer than Mick's, it's a rather a pitiful duet. Can't even hear Mick over BB.

He's got an unmistakeable voice and sound. He's also a great 'entertainer' live, talking a lot, introducing songs, etc. His band is phenomenal. Freaking out of this world.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. It's his guitar playing that knocks my socks off...

His sound is a trademark. I know little about guitarists; but his playing is unmistakably BB.

[S n o w b a l l]

8. I'm a fan too

Saw him at a small supper club in Redondo Beach several yrs ago. What a great show.

[Flaxbee]

12. Yes! I went with a friend who wasn't really a fan,

didn't know much about him, and he was just floored. BB live is a terrific show, and small clubs are the best place to see him.

[SPKrazy]

10. Like BB Myself!

;-)

[Fuzz]

16. "Mr. BB King, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. BB King!"

I've seen him live several times at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in NY at the Saratoga Jazz Festival and his emcee always said that, over and over.

He is good to see live, but not as good as Buddy Guy was. That guy freakin' rocked!

[Flaxbee]

17. didn't have the pleasure of seeing Buddy Guy...

did see Ray Charles, though. At the Greek Amphitheater in LA on a hot summer evening. I wish I'd bootlegged it... there was something about Ray's voice live that recordings just never captured.

[Fuzz]

18. Yeah, he was fantastic too

He played SPAC as well, a couple times. Wonderful, but short sets. Saw Miles Davis there as well. I've been lucky to have seen so many greats. Aretha was there on year too.

[Flaxbee]

19. wow. Sounds like you have seen some greats...

I'd love to see Etta James. She toured several dates earlier this year and I need to keep an eye out for 2007...

[Fuzz]

20. Yeah, the festival is great and I miss it.

I went for 10 years in a row. It's two days, 12 hours each day. I went each year from 1985-1994. Then I had kids and moved to NJ, and it stopped. We would see the same people each year and would have a fantastic time, every year. Two stages, the main and a smaller stage where smaller acts would get to showcase their stuff. Name a jazz act from that time, and I've probably seen them because they played there. Grover Washington Jr., Spyro Gyra, David Brubeck, Tito Puente, Kenny G (blech), the list goes on and on. Even non-jazz folks like the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Little Richard, Roberta Flack, Carlos Santana, etc.

[bullwinkle428]

21. I still love "When Love Comes to Town", which he performed with U2!

:applause:

[av8rdave]

22. Saw him live last year...

Great show. Doesn't play quite as cleanly as Johnny Bassett, but he puts sooo much feeling into it.

Would gladly pay to see him again.

Opening act was Bobby "Blue" Bland. Another show well worth seeing/hearing