This is
B.B.'s celebrity duet album, and a straight-ahead blues album this is not. But longtime fans who are aware of
King's genre-stretching capabilities will find much to savor here. Kicking off with
B.B. playing some beautiful fills and solo work behind
Van Morrison on "If You Love Me," the superstars start lining up to jam with the King, with
Tracy Chapman ("The Thrill Is Gone"),
Eric Clapton (a funkified "Rock Me Baby"),
the Rolling Stones ("Paying the Cost to Be the Boss," with a fine harp solo from
Mick Jagger),
Willie Nelson (his "Nightlife," long a standard in
B.B.'s set list),
Bonnie Raitt ("Baby I Love You"), and
Marty Stuart ("Confessin' the Blues") all turning in fine efforts. ~ Cub Koda