DVD - B.B.King: Live In Africa '74

Any B.B performance is likely to be a treat but this 1974 performance is better than anyone has a right to expect. Appearing in Zaire on the back of the Muhammad Ali and George Foreman heavyweight title fight (billed it as the 'Rumble in the Jungle'.

B.B. King was the headlining act. Anyone who has ever had the fortune to see B.B. King play live knows that he is always gives value for money, even when he finally made concessions to his age and remained seated throughout large parts of a performance. "B.B. King: Live in Africa '74" highlights the Blues Boy at the peak of his powers, as a performer and as a player - he had by this time largely manged to crossover to the popular mainstream and had a following far beyond the standard blues lover; and he was already approaching fifty when he played in Zaire, so it took him a while to get here.

The sound recording is excellent, and the filming is great in that it is all concert, beginning to end - no distractions to disrupt the flow of the show. Some might now call this technique perfunctory, but for those just interested in the music, it's perfect. The picture isn't bad either, considering it is by necessity a video to DVD transfer.

Excellent choice of material - 'Sweet Sixteen' from early in his career, a great interpretation of 'Believe To My Soul', along with what was then fairly recently released material such as 'Ain't Nobody Home' 'Guess Who' and the King standard 'The Thrill Is Gone'.

Great playing, great singing, great band! What more could you want? Well, you would probably want a little more of the same, as the DVD only runs to around 48 minutes. And there isn't much in the way of extras - there's a fairly short interview with King, which isn't specifically about the Zaire concert and probably doesn't tell you much you didn't already know about him. But 48 minutes of King in his prime is worth more than two hours of mediocrity and this is B.B at his best.

Unreservedly recommended and easily the best DVD featuring the great man that I have yet to see and hear. Ali is in the audience by the way, but blink and you'll miss him!

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