Albums

The month's best guitar music - a hand-picked selection of the finest fretwork on wax

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Joe Bonamassa And Friends
BB King’s Blues Summit 100
KTBA Records (available 6 February)

Star-laden birthday tribute to the king of the blues
When Joe Bonamassa discovered that there were no plans from the record industry to celebrate the 100th birthday of BB King on 16 September last year, he swung into action. “Very few people in music define the genre in which they flourish – and BB King is one of them,” Joe told us. “When BB was alive and active, he was the blues – he was the sun around which all planets rotated.”

A plan evolved to put together a collection of songs with guest players paying homage to BB by playing tracks from his long career. And once things came to fruition, guitarists and singers began lining up at the studio door. Tracks from the album have been filtering through since the announcement, but the album itself – a double-CD or triple vinyl – is due for imminent release. No fewer than 32 tracks with guitarists including Eric Clapton, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Derek Trucks, Robben Ford, Buddy Guy and a host of others can be found playing BB’s staples such as The Thrill Is Gone, Paying The Cost To Be The Boss, Sweet Little Angel and You Upset Me Baby. JoBo’s band was on hand to accompany the guest stars, and the result is an amazing tribute to a true blues legend.

Highlights come too thick and fast, but Clapton’s take on The Thrill Is Gone and Eric Gale’s on Heartbreaker are two that have immediate impact. Cardinal Black’s Chris Buck appears on Think It Over and unleashes a characteristically wonderful solo. Great stuff! [DM]

Standout track: Sweet Little Angel (Buddy Guy)
For fans of: BB King, Joe Bonamassa, Buddy Guy

Cory Wong