B.B. King - Live at the Apollo

There are both good and bad points to this CD. Of the latter, the Phillip Morris "Super Band" is confined to background work with -- other than a few spots for Plas Johnson's tenor -- no soloists being heard from. As an ensemble, the all-star orchestra performs well, but is essentially anonymous. Also, despite the backing, B.B. King does not attempt to play jazz, a wasted opportunity. But, switching to the good points, Live at the Apollo is an excellent example of a strong B.B. King live performance. Somehow he always makes his combination of blues and familiar hits sound fresh. With a liberal amount of space set aside for his guitar solos, B.B. is in top form throughout the well-paced set, which is far superior to most of his overproduced studio sessions for MCA. Even if the big band is mostly irrelevant, this CD is recommended for B.B. King's singing and playing. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Whist Liner Notes Andy Baltimore Creative Director Andy McKaie Reissue Supervisor Andy Ruggirello Graphic Design, Design Anthony Benjamin Assistant Engineer, Assistant B.B. King Vocals, Guitar Cameron Mizell Production Coordination Carl Griffin Engineer, Mixing, Producer Chris Dunn Technical Support Dan Serrano Design, Graphic Design Dave Grusin Executive Producer David Gibb Graphic Design, Design Gary Smulyan Sax (Tenor) Gene Harris Piano, Conductor Gene Harris & the Philip Morris Superband ? George Bohannon Trombone George Bohanon Trombone Glen Drews Trumpet Harold Jones Drums Harry "Sweets" Edison Trumpet Hollis King Art Direction Isabelle Wong Design J.B. Chupick Assistant, Mixing Assistant James Morrison Trumpet Jeff Clayton Sax (Alto) Jerry Dodgion Sax (Alto) Joe Mossello Trumpet John McClure Associate Engineer, Engineer Joseph Doughney Post Production Josiah Gluck Engineer, Mixing, Producer Kenny Burrell Guitar Kevin Reeves Remastering Larry Rosen Executive Producer Michael Landy Post Production Michael V. DiCosimo Technical Support Michelle Lewis Production Coordination Morris Lane Photography Paul Faulise Trombone Plas Johnson Sax (Tenor) Ralph Moore Sax (Tenor) Ray Brown Bass Robin Eubanks Trombone Ron Bowen Assistant Engineer, Assistant Scott Albert Johnson Graphic Design Scott Johnson Design Sidney Seidenberg Executive Producer, Producer Sonny Mediana Design, Graphic Design Ted Jensen Mastering Ted Jenson Mastering Urbie Green Trombone