B.B. King: Standing Room Only

Filmed at the Trump Marina Hotel in Atlantic City, this Standing Room Only concert features B.B. King, a consummate pro who seems incapable of simply going through the motions, in top form (he was in his mid-'60s at the time of this 1990 gig). King's band, with three horns and a rhythm section (including a second guitarist, Leon Warren, who takes several extended solos), is in high gear as well, ripping through such familiar fare as "Let the Good Times Roll," "Paying the Cost to Be the Boss," "Why I Sing the Blues," "When Love Comes to Town," and even the inevitable "The Thrill is Gone" with remarkable energy and verve. Born in rural Mississippi, King absorbed the influences not only of the Delta blues masters but also of jazzier, more urbane guitarists like Lonnie Johnson, Charlie Christian, and Django Reinhardt; his is a sophisticated sound, swinging and slick with a big band feel and he plays the Atlantic City audience as skillfully as he coaxes that inimitable sound out of his trusty Lucille. Despite the less than stellar packaging (songs mislabeled, cheesy menus), this exciting performance presented in Dolby Digital stereo is highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)