Search - B.B. King :: Reflections

As only BB can...

Daniel Sheets | Katy, TX USA | 06/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD showcases BB's incredible voice. Lucille stays quiet throughout most of the album, and the BB King band sits out on most of this one too (save I Wanna Little Girl and Exactly like You). Instead, B is backed by an orchestra, keyboards, and drums. A very simple setup, for some fairly simple little tunes. The set has a flow to it (each song smoothly transitioning to the next), and you are caught by surprise when the CD ends (after 46 minutes). Overall, this is an enjoyable CD if you are in the mood to slow dance, or kick back and relax for a while. A collection of love songs as only BB King can do them. This is a side of BB that is rarely seen on past albums and during live concerts. Normally these songs would be squeezed between Caldonia and Ain't Nobody's Business, but here these slow songs take center stage. A change of pace for the King of the Blues, but his unmistakable voice and genuine soul make this album work beautifully. A good addition to any BB collection..."

A beautifully done album of bluesy ballads and standards

BluesReviews | Sunny Hills, CA | 05/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"BB King is 1st and formost a blues singer and jazz based blues guitarist. On this cd his is heard more as a singer, then a guitarist, although he does play a few licks here and there. This cd is proof that King as as much a crooner as Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby or Tony Bennett. The opening number Exactly Like You(which has been recorded by Little Jimmy Rushing and frank Sinatra), is a perfect example of King acting as an urban blues singer, turning a swing standard into a blues romper much the way Big Joe Turner might have done it on one of his OJC sessions. BB also handles blues ballads with sensitivity and firmness at the same time creating a bluesy intamacy, for instance on On My Word Of Honor, he'll bring you to tears with his ematioanl performance. There are aslo great standards which BB makes hsi own like I Love You For Sentimanetal Reasons, making you forget even Nat KING Cole's version, which was sappier, as where BB made it a Reflection! Also BB stands out on Satchmo's great Waht A Wonderful World. a trutly great and touching cd, and the best release from the king in a decade."

A nice cd for what it is, but not the typical blues BB album

W. Noshie | 10/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, all of BB's live albums are his best, because there are no producers to drag things down with "overproduction." To hear a good typical Blues BB cd checkout the 1990's "Live At tHe Apollo" or the 60's "Live at the Regal." However for those of us who know the blues BB, it is nice to hear him as a "crooner" much like Louis Armstrong's 1950's session with Gordon Jenkins' sticky strings, you miss his trumpet playing, but there's a lot to be said sbout his singing. BB King's timesless voice(age 77), covers a few standards(I wish they had done all standards), and some dated R&B stuff, however it all works. BB's highly appealing baritone voice is warm, rich and strong throughout. It's a lovely slow dance romance album, it's particularly nice to hear BB's takes on "Exactly Like You," "I Want a Little Girl" and a touching "What A Wonderful world." This cd also reminds me of one of Joe Turner's classic later efforts, he also did a album of standards and turned everyone of those standards(including O Lift My Heart In San Francisco) into blues, as BB does here(as Kay Starr did thoughout her career). That being said, this album is overproduced, but it's still a classic,it would have been nice if they had used a good pianist or at least a more imaginitive jazz based one, and why is practicly nothing heard fom Lucille(BB's guiutar)?, why couldn't they get Oscar Peterson or Ray Bryant to play piano, and the strings and Orchestra are finem but the muzaky piano should have been replaced with some jazzy BB King guitar, oh well it still all works and is an enjoyable listen ang great for parties. This is great for those who love timeless singing, there are almosty no good singer left(Ernie Andrews might be the only other one) and BB is one of them and this cd is worth listening over again."