B.B. King
At The Calvin Theater, Northampton
January 14, 2001

 Keith Richards, in describing the last time he sat in with Muddy Waters, said
the elder bluesman was “...sitting down on a stool, like a Black Buddha, just
smiling away.” This description could just as easily be applied to B.B. King,
who may be getting on in years, but who still is filled with a tremendous love
and passion for his music, and who seems to defy time when a guitar is in his arms.
 King, at 75, took to the stage at the Calvin Theater slowly, holding onto the
arm of a handler as he made his way to a chair placed center-stage. Wearing a
black tuxedo with a gold jacket, any doubts about whether the man could still
play were quickly cast away as he tore into an old favorite, “Let the Good Times
Roll.” With a voice that was still as resonant and commanding as at any point
in the man’s decades long career, King knew how to work the room, receiving
thunderous applause from the crowd when he sang: “Hey everybody/ B.B. King’s in
town!” Cupping a hand to his ears, King signaled to the audience that he wanted
to hear some noise, and the crowd lovingly obliged. “I love it,” said King on
more than one occasion.
 Leading an eight piece band that included four horns, a guitarist, drummer,
keyboard player, and bassist, King controlled the dynamics of the players with
little flips of his hands or sideways glances, keeping the energy level at a
steady pace, even for the slow numbers. King coyly made reference to his age
early on, saying in a mocking tone, “Now, I know many of you are probably
whispering, ‘Oh, he’s too old to stand up and play’--well, you’re right!” King
chuckled, and he went on to say that, while he may have to sit down these days,
he’s still going to give the crowd a run for its money. King charged through
several songs that involved audience participation, but the real thrill came
when the man set aside the showmanship and just played his guitar. B.B. King is
one of the great performers who has a signature sound that is instantly
recognizable, and his playing on this night was as dynamic and emotionally
charged as ever. At various points throughout the evening, this reviewer closed
his eyes and found it difficult to believe that such beautiful, powerful music
was coming from a 75 year old man. King’s playing and singing was every bit as
sharp as it is on such classic albums as “Live From Cook County Jail.”