Blues legend B.B. King would have been 100 in September 2025, a date that Joe Bonamassa probably had marked on his calendar, but word through the blues community was that nothing official was planned to commemorate this. As one of the foremost blues players working right now, and a lifelong student and fan of the genre who owes his career to King, it was clear Joe felt compelled to put something together to celebrate.

What started small morphed into a monster project, with past and present blues players jumping at the chance to pay homage to a mentor, friend and influence. Before long, Joe found himself with 32 King tracks and 42 different collaborators, an embarrassment of riches that was quickly shaped into a double-disc, 2.5-hour tribute album.

Bonamassa plays on the album but only sings on one of the songs, letting the other artists put their stamp on blues classics. Expected names like Gary Clark Jr., Tedeschi/Trucks, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Warren Haynes, Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram are here. Less expected names like Slash, Dion, Michael McDonald, George Benson, Keb’ Mo’, Trombone Shorty, Aloe Blacc and, uh, Train are here as well. Such is the range and influence of King that so many showed up to pay tribute to his music.

The tone here borders on reverential, not copying King’s music note for note, but not exactly reinventing it either. The covers are devotional and played with passion and love; all are solid at worst, even if there are few true standouts. Really, it comes down to what King songs you like the most. “Sweet Little Angel?” Buddy Guy nails his version of it. “The Thrill Is Gone?” Chaka Khan and Clapton do it justice. The 1987 King/U2 collab “When Love Comes To Town?” A surprisingly effective version is present from Slash, Myles Copeland and Shemekia Copeland.

The language of blues rock is all written across these tracks. Bobby Rush does a killer version of the seven-minute “Why I Sing The Blues,” Keb’ Mo’ pours his soul into the short “I’ll Survive” and it’s hard not to move when Trombone Shorty and Eric Gales tear into “Heartbreaker.” Clark also brings his usual skill and passion to “Chains And Things,” which closes out the first disc.

The second disc is more of the same but not quite as memorable, owing more to the song selection than the excellent performances, though Joanne Shaw Taylor and D.K. Taylor’s respective rave-ups “Bad Case Of Love” and “Everyday I Have The Blues” are highlights. And though I expected Train to be badly out of place here, they and Chris Buck ably assist Joe on “Think It Over,” turning in a fine piece of work. Dannielle De Andrea turns in fine soulful vocals on “When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer” and Joe himself closes things out with a fine “Playin’ With My Friends,” a very appropriate song for this set. The actual closing track is an eight-minute instrumental with spoken-word clips from some of the musicians involved talking about King’s life, influence and legacy over top. Probably not worth repeated plays, but a nice tribute all the same.

Is it too much of a good thing in one setting? Absolutely. But you can throw a dart at any four songs from this and have a grand time, such is the commitment to quality (and fine production) involved. Bonamassa wouldn’t have had it any other way, and his tribute to his mentor—and the father of blues rock—is as good as one would have hoped.

Rating: B+

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