The Soul Of The King The BB King Blues Band
Album info
Album-Release:
2019
HRA-Release:
10.05.2019
Album including Album cover Booklet (PDF)
- 1Irene Irene04:29
- 2Sweet Little Angel04:54
- 3There Must Be A Better World Somewhere03:26
- 4Paying The Cost To Be The Boss04:48
- 5Low Down04:41
- 6She's The One05:26
- 7Taking Care Of Business03:17
- 8Becoming The Blues05:19
- 9Hey There Pretty Woman04:09
- 10Here Today, Gone Tomorrow04:02
- 11Regal Blues (A Tribute To The King)05:15
- 12Pocket Full Of Money06:07
- 13The Thrill Is Gone03:37
Info for The Soul Of The King
Long live the King. Four years since the passing of the great B.B. King, his towering influence over the blues world – and beyond – remains undimmed. From the long-standing fans still held spellbound by 1965’s classic Live At The Regal album, to the young guitarists adding a shiver of vibrato to an emotive solo, King’s music will never be forgotten. And this year, the iconic bluesman’s presence is felt stronger than ever, as his spirit imbues a star-studded new album, The Soul Of The King.
The term ‘legend’ doesn’t do justice to B.B. King. The eight-decade story of how a Mississippi cotton-picker rose to the heights of the blues – changing the genre forever with his soul-drenched voice and ‘one-note’ touch – is told by his acclaimed studio catalogue and fabled live shows. Now, as the men who walked alongside him every step of the way for over 35 years, The B.B. King Blues Band write the next chapter, on an album that salutes King’s classic songs and showcases their own. “It’s important,” nods executive producer Terry Harvey, “to continue what he started.”
Boasting several world-class songwriters in their ranks, The Soul Of The King finds the lineup supplying material that stands alongside their late leader’s catalogue. There’s the addictive brass-bolstered shuffle of Low Down. The slow-burn balladry of She’s The One. The spring-heeled funk of Taking Care Of Business, and trumpet legend James ‘Boogaloo’ Bolden’s own Hey There Pretty Woman. Joe Louis Walker gives a soulful hat-tip on Regal Blues – while the King would surely approve of Louisiana gunslinger Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s masterful solo on opener Irene Irene. As Harvey says: “This record is a representation of B.B.’s musical styles and influences, to those who never got to hear or see him live.”
In modern times, most musicians shrink from the challenge of covering King’s material, wary of being hopelessly exposed as they strain to capture the soul. But as the King’s faithful sidemen, this band of blues lifers have his music under their fingernails, and during sessions at Hollywood’s Paramount Recording Studios and Houston’s Lucky Run Studios, their performances soared. “After being with B.B. for 35 years,” says Harvey, “this band lives and breathes his music. It has become a part of them.”
Choosing songs from King’s sprawling catalogue could have been an ordeal. But for The Soul Of The King, the lineup made a smart move, letting the A-list guests dictate the material. “As the name artists joined the project,” remembers Harvey, “we picked songs from B.B.’s catalogue that we felt fit their voices. Our approach was not to stray too far from the original, but still to make it fresh. I want the world to remember B.B. and to introduce his music to the youth of today.”
Mission accomplished, with The Soul Of The King making a bracing return to some of King’s greatest cuts. There’s a heartfelt turn from Michael Lee on The Thrill Is Gone. Mary Griffin and Taj Mahal combine their vocal and guitar talents on Paying The Cost To Be The Boss. Kenny Neal lends poignant vocals and licks to Sweet Little Angel. “Recording with the different artists and the band was an enlightening experience,” reflects Harvey. “Everyone came in prepared, but when Mary Griffin came to record, she came in all bubbly – and nailed her vocals in two takes.”
They might have an illustrious history, but The Soul Of The King reminds us that The B.B. King Blues Band are a lineup moving forward, writing a love-letter to their fallen leader while staking their own claim in the modern era. “When we started this album, we wanted to let the world know the B.B. King Band is live and well,” explains Harvey. “And that we are continuing B.B.’s musical legacy…”
Russell Jackson, lead vocal (1,5,7,8)
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, guitar (1)
Kenny Neal, lead vocals, guitar Solo (2), harmonica solo (8)
Diunna Greenleaf, lead vocals (3), background vocals (8)
Eric Demmer, lead vocals (6), alto, saxophone solo (3,4), saxophone solo (6,9), tenor, saxophone solo (7)
Mary Griffin, lead vocals, guitar (4)
Taj Mahal, lead vocals, guitar (4)
Lamar Boulet, trumpet (5), trumpet solo (12)
Krik Joseph, tuba (5)
James “Boogaloo” Bolden, background vocals (7)
Johns Dell Toro Richarson, background vocals (7)
Wilbert Crosby, guitar solo (7,8)
James “Boogaloo” Bolden, lead vocals (9, 10, 12)
Darrell Lavigne, keyboard solo (10)
Joe Louis Walker, lead vocals, guitar solo (11)
Michael Lee, lead vocals, guitar solo (13)
The BB King Blues Band
is a swinging, hard-touring jump blues outfit dedicated to keeping the music and legacy of their namesake alive by spreading his utterly unique take on the blues to future generations. The group is comprised of actual members of King's touring bands from various periods, including musical director and trumpeter James Bolden, who worked with the guitarist for some 35 years. Other members include vocalist/bassist Russell Jackson, guitarists Jesse Robinson and Wilbert Crosby, drummers Brandon Jackson and Herman Jackson, trumpeter Lamar Boulet, saxophonists Eric Demmer and Walter King, keyboardist Darrell Lavigne, and trombonist Raymond Harris. They have been touring the globe playing King's repertoire since 2017, with unique rearrangements of King's music and often with high-profile guests on vocals and/or guitars. Besides Jackson, the band has featured another pair of lead singers and guitarists: first was Tito Jackson (Jackson 5), who joined the group in the fall of 2017 and played world tours through February of 2019. Michael "The Voice" Lee, the television reality show contestant and guitar slinger, has been touring and recording with the group. Their acclaimed 2019 self-titled debut album featured a host of great blues singers and players including Taj Mahal, Kenny Neal, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
When B.B. King passed away at his home in May of 2015, his longtime manager, Myron John, grieved for a time and then began doing work to preserve and further the legacy of the guitarist. He contacted everyone from the touring group and found out who wanted to continue and who wanted to stop. He contacted King's organization who gave their OK, and then he reached Bolden, a King devotee and the group's musical director, who was eager to participate and go down the list. By September, the B.B. King Blues Band was rehearsing in Bolden's Houston, Texas garage and creating a stage show.
Their first major show was playing behind a host of blues and jazz luminaries (including Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Tab Benoit, and Bonnie Raitt) as part of a King tribute held at the 2016 New Orleans Blues & Jazz Heritage Festival. From there they undertook an American tour, and in 2017, began gallivanting the world. Tito Jackson -- who had been playing and recording blues since 2003 -- joined the tour in August, selling out shows across Europe and the U.S., through February 2019. During breaks, they cut their full-length for Ruf Records, allowing their guests to select the material -- as long as it came from King's repertoire. They enlisted the Texas-born Lee, who they'd witnessed performing King's signature tune "The Thrill Is Gone" on The Voice. He not only cut it for the album, but also joined the band as lead vocalist and lead guitarist on tour after Jackson left. "The Thrill Is Gone" was issued as a pre-release single in December of 2018 and ran up the digital blues charts. The self-titled full-length was released in May of 2019.