In France: Live at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival (1977)＜限定盤＞

キングのキャリアにおいて記録の少ない時期となる1977年ナンシー・ジャズ・パルセーションズ・フェスティヴァルでのライヴ音源。
マシュー・ルタンズによる修復・マスタリング(The Mastering Lab)。フランス国営放送ORTFの伝説的機関INA所蔵のオリジナルテープリールから転写。
フランス人作家ジャン・ビュゼランによる新たなライナーノーツを収録。ジャン=ピエール・ルロワ、オジエ・ムハンマドによる写真に加え、ジャン=マルク・ビローがキングのナンシー公演で撮影した圧巻の写真群を掲載。
＜パーソネル＞B.B. King(g,vo) Walter King(ts) Ronnie Wiliams III (as) Eddie Rowe(tp) James Toney(org) Milton Hopkins(g) Joe Turner(b) Calep Emphrey, Jr. (ds)

Bluesman B.B King was no stranger to releasing live albums, during the 1960s and 70s. He released eight in that decade, among them, some of the most acclaimed records of his career, including Live at The Regal, Blues Is King, Live & Well, Live In Cook County Jail, and Live In Japan. In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival adds significantly to that list. The 14-track show appears as the second release from Zev Feldmans cooperatively owned Deep Digs label. The first was Sister Rosetta Tharpe Live in France. The tapes were sourced from Office de Radiodiffusion-Television Francaise (ORTF) and are in excellent sonic condition. King played with a septet that included trumpeter Eddie Rowe and alto saxophonist Cato Walker III had been with him for several years as had guitarist Milton Hopkins. Organist James Toney joined King in 1968 and remained for decades, as did tenor saxophonist musical director and nephew Walter King. Bassist Joe Turner and drummer Calep Emphrey Jr. (he also played with Freddie and Albert King, the only musician to play with all three) were new additions to Kings orchestra. These 14 tracks were sequenced and arranged expansively for the festival. They reveal themselves every bit as capable as previous backing band Sonny Freeman and the Kingpins. Arguably, this band is better. Evidence of their prowess can especially be heard on the three instrumental workouts in the programs second half -- "I Need My Baby," "When Im Wrong," and "Have Faith." King throws a curveball after his introduction with a medley of Thelonious Monks "Blue Monk" and Louis Jordans "Caldonia," the latter an evergreen to the end. The orchestras swing on the former tune is drenched in jazz-blues while the latter is jump blues/R&B barnstormer. With great breaks from both guitarists, honking saxophones, bright trumpets and unshakeable grooves from the rhythm section. Further, in his song choices, playing and especially sing, King drenches the concert in vintage soul reflecting the twin influences of Motown and Stax/Volt on his music during the 1970s. Check the version of "I Like to Live the Love" studio recorded in 1973 for To Know You Is to Love You, it glides, grooves, shakes and shimmies with infectious B-3 runs, bumping bass, and Kings raw, resonant signing. Theres also a driving, blues funky version of that albums title track with burning horns and guitars. The reading of "The Thrill Is Gone" here surpasses the one found on Live In Cook County Jail. It starts loose, like a rehearsal version with King finding the bassline and walking slow and low in his opening solo. When he begins singing, the band falls in behind him, creating a platform for his voice. Later, "Sweet Sixteen" gives the audience a rightious taste of Chicago blues, while "To Know You Is to Love You" is a soul-blues choogler with jazzy horns, driving organ and bass and biting guitars in cut time. Though released for Record Store Day, In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival is destined to become one of the more cherished live albums on Kings shelf. ~ Thom Jurek

エリック・クラプトンら偉大なるギタリスト達に影響与えたブルース・シンガー/ギタリスト/作曲家である"キング・オブ・ブルース"ことB.B.キングによる1977年ナンシー・ジャズ・パルセーションズ・フェスティバルでの貴重ライブ盤。"ジャズ探偵"としても有名な"名盤発掘王"ことゼヴ・フェルドマンが主宰＜Deep Digs＞レーベルからの第2弾。本作には、商業的・職業的名声が頂点に達した時期のB.B.キングのパワフルな魅力と超強力な7人編成バンドによるダイナミックな演奏が収録。彼の長い活動歴の中で録音物や作品自体もほぼ皆無な空白時期を知れる代物。ええやんええやん。
intoxicate (C)黒田"ハイプ"朋規