Capital Radio Jazz Festival 1979 : B B King, Alexandra Palace, London (GB) - Jul 20, 1979

Another major figure in the postwar blues, an enormous contrast to Muddy Waters, B B King’s guitar playing was so different with its long, flowing lines, derived mostly from the playing of T-Bone Walker yet more bluesy with its bent notes. And his singing, with the use of melisma and other vocal techniques coming from gospel, was quite innovative in the early days for a blues singer. Another difference was that he was accompanied by a full r’n’b band with horns. A tremendous performance and good to hear this stuff live. Willie Cook, ex-Duke Ellington trumpeter, was the band director.