Joe Bonamassa has released B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100, Vol. III, the next chapter in his landmark tribute project honouring what would have been B.B. King’s 100th birthday. Out now via KTBA Records, this new instalment delivers five collaborations that celebrate the depth, heart, and legacy of the King of the Blues.
The new tracks include:
Sweet Little Angel featuring Buddy Guy
Don’t You Want A Man Like Me featuring Larkin Poe
Heartbreaker featuring Trombone Shorty and Eric Gales
Watch Yourself featuring Jimmie Vaughan
When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around) featuring Larry McCray
Alongside today’s release, Bonamassa has confirmed details of the upcoming collaboration many fans have been waiting for: The Thrill Is Gone featuring Chaka Khan and Eric Clapton. The track will arrive with the full 32-song album on February 6th.
Leading Vol. III is Sweet Little Angel featuring Buddy Guy, supported by a new music video that blends live and archival footage of Guy and B.B. King onstage together. Co-producer Josh Smith says:
“Buddy Guy is the first call you make for a project like this, and Sweet Little Angel was his choice. His vocal and guitar parts are from one live take. No tricks, just the real thing.”
Larkin Poe bring swagger and grit to Don’t You Want A Man Like Me, reshaping one of King’s most playful songs. Smith adds:
“They brought a fresh attitude to this track. The vocals are incredible and the lap steel solo is wild.”
On Heartbreaker, Trombone Shorty and Eric Gales create one of the album’s most explosive moments.
“Shorty sings his heart out and plays all the horns. Eric does exactly what Eric does. They honour B.B. while sounding completely their own,” says Smith.
Texas legend Jimmie Vaughan lends laid-back confidence to Watch Yourself, even recording his own horn section before discovering the producers planned to add one anyway.
“Jimmie gave this one so much personality. A great performance,” says Smith.
The volume closes with When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around) featuring Larry McCray.
“Larry is one of the greatest contemporary bluesmen alive. He was the perfect match for this song from B.B.’s late sixties and seventies catalogue.”
Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the full B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 project will roll out in monthly volumes until its complete release on February 6th. With the blessing of the B.B. King Estate, The B.B. King Music Company, and the King family, the project brings together generations of artists influenced by King’s legacy.
“When B.B. was alive, he was the blues,” Bonamassa says. “You only get one chance to honour him correctly. I think we nailed it.”
Previous volumes have included contributions from Gary Clark Jr., Keb’ Mo’, Paul Rodgers, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Pat Monahan, Aloe Blacc, Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Bobby Rush, George Benson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and D.K. Harrell.
The announcement arrives during a landmark moment in Bonamassa’s career. His latest studio album Breakthrough has earned his fifth GRAMMY nomination, while A Tribute To LJK by Eric Gales, produced by Bonamassa and Josh Smith, is also nominated. Bonamassa is currently touring across the United States, marking the final run with longtime keyboardist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Reese Wynans. For tour dates, visit jbonamassa.com.
