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B.B. King
Reflections
(MCA)
First Appeared at The Music Box, July 2003, Volume 10, #7
Written by John Metzger
Naturally, there will be those who immediately dismiss B.B. King’s latest
outing Reflections as inessential, for it largely forsakes the rock ’n‘
soul blues for which he is most famous. But that would be a terrible mistake to
make. Yes, it’s true that the cuts on Reflections are a bit more refined
than usual. It’s also true that at times it seems as if the accompanying string
section might turn the songs a tad schmaltzy. Ever the master, however, King
manages to escape that trap while keeping everything in check as he, with all
the loose, organic charm to which his fans have become accustomed, reinvents one
original composition and twelve standards that cross the boundaries of pop, R&B,
and jazz. At the age of 77, his voice still sounds terrific as he delivers songs
like On My Word of Honor, I Want a Little Girl, and Always on
My Mind, which respectively were popularized by The Platters, Louis
Armstrong and Count Basie, and Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, with more
passion and conviction than those half his age. Not to mention — underneath each
track, his distinctively mellow guitar tones gracefully glide with utmost
fluidity and ease. To top it all off, his backing band is first-rate, featuring
keyboard players Joe Sample and Tim Carmon, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, bass
player Nathan East, and drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr., plus a horn section that
splatters the songs with nostalgic elegance. In his brilliant career, which now
spans more than 50 years and 50 albums, King has already taken home 13 Grammy
Awards. Without question, Reflections should win him another. 
Reflections [Standard CD] is available
from Amazon. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
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For UK orders, please Click Here!
Reflections [SACD] is available
from Amazon. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
Click Here!
For UK orders, please Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003
The Music Box
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