Search - B.B. King: Blues Master on DVD

B.B. King's Best And Most Intimate Performance

Perry Celestino | Tahmoor, NSW Australia | 04/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is a compilation of several VHS tapes which were made in the 1990s. The DVD is quite pricey and I, mistakenly, first bought "Highlights". I originally thought they were different items, the information on the DVD did not include a track list. This DVD "Blues Master" is the complete version and "Highlights" is the scaled down version of this set. However, I am more than happy with this product. B.B.'s performance is easily his best live work in the last 20 years and the sound is excellent. This is much better than say "By Request" or "Jazz Channel Presents". If you are a guitar player you will get hints from it, but its not a real instructional lesson ( I agree with the previous reviewer in that regard), it's more like an interview and overview of Mr King's career. If you want instruction, buy one of the many books available or the new Guitar Signature Licks DVD.

I feel as a historical record of Blues material the performance section of this DVD(which you can play alone)is more than worth the price. BB plays with the band he has worked with since the late 1980s. These days when the Blues Originals are leaving us yearly, this is a great record of B.B. at the end of his career. He even stands up and plays "Everyday I Have The Blues", something I haven't seen since the early 90s. Other highlights are "Three O'Clock Blues", his first hit, "You Upset Me Baby" the lead off tune and his sexist "Paying The Cost To Be the Boss", a superb Jump Blues. If you like B.B. get this DVD for the historical value and great performance presentation. If you want to play like him get lessons (if you can really learn the Blues).

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