B. B. King – Live, Blu-ray (2009/2011)

by | Nov 28, 2011 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

B. B. King – Live, Blu-ray (2009/2011)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 1080i HD
Audio: DTS-HD Master 5.1, PCM Stereo
Length: 54 minutes
Extras: None.
Rating:  Sound ****      Video  ****½
This is a 2009 Sound Stage concert. B. B. performs with guest artist actor Terrence Howard, Solonge and Richie Sambora. B. B.’s voice may have lost a little over the years, but his guitar playing certainly hasn’t. His more aged voice fits into the blues well however. Terrence Howard’s voice surprised me, and is very good. Solonge supplies some nice eye candy and a good voice. Sambora doesn’t quite fit into the blues to me, but adds some excellent guitar playing. The song selection is well arranged. The song “The Thrill is Gone” is done twice in a somewhat short concert. The balance between the band and singer is well done. There is a fair amount of stage patter going on, which usually irritates me, but in this concert it fit in well. The concert is spirited and lively.
The video quality of the concert is one of the better concert Blu-rays. There is not too much in the way of flashing lights or strong backlighting. The front lighting is kept fairly constant. Detail is well portrayed. B. B.’s sparkly coat shines through in all its brilliance.
The sound is also very good. All the primary voices and instruments are clearly heard and have a good sense of life. The PCM stereo sound has a little more life to it than the DTS Master sound, and a little more power to it. There could have been more definition in the background instruments however.
I can easily recommend this Blu-ray to any blues or B.B. King fans.
TrackList: Everyday I Have the Blues, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean , How Many More Years, Downhearted, I Need You So, I Got Some Help I Don’t Need, Thrill is Gone, Nobody Loves Me But My Mother, Let the Good Times Roll, Thrill is Gone, When The Saints Go Marching In, Key to the Highway
—Clayton Swartz

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