We mentioned this project on our social media channels earlier this week, but couldn’t resist coming back for a bit deeper of a dive. As terrific as this centennial birthday tribute collection to the late B.B. King looks on screen or paper–with tracks featuring Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark Jr., Bobby Rush, Jimmie Vaughan, Kirk Fletcher, George Benson, Kim Wilson, Keb’ Mo’, Trombone Shorty and Eric Gales, Ivan Neville, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Paul Rodgers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and many others–, it only gets better when you hear it, at least in the case of the first handful of tracks available from the set.
Each of these initial tracks is superb, starting off with a shuffling “Why I Sing the Blues” that features vocals and harmonica (along with some kind words about B.B.) from Bobby Rush. That’s followed by a killer “To Know You is to Love You” from Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, on which you’ll hear some stellar play between keyboards, horns, and Trucks’ guitar, as Tedeschi and McDonald exchange burning vocals.
George Benson guests on the soulful, swaying “There Must Be a Better World”, while Kenny Wayne Shepherd and bandmate Noah Hunt both contribute vocals–with a Bobby “Blue” Bland-ish croak even thrown in at a few points–on the swinging “Let the Good Times Roll”, both songs again accented with some fantastic horns.
This first volume closes on an uptempo, energetic “Every Day I Have the Blues” from young blues phenom D.K. Harrell, who you may recall us wondering aloud in our review of his debut album if he’s really King reincarnated. If you haven’t had a chance to check out these first tracks, you’ve still got plenty of time: this party is just getting started, with additional tracks to be shared monthly until the full collection is released in February 2026 on Bonamassa’s KTBA Records.
Thanks to producers Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith and the nearly 40 featured guests for showing their enduring love for the King of the Blues, and helping to ensure that, at least into February (and probably for quite a while after), every day we’ll have the blues…because you can bet that’s how often we’ll be enjoying this masterpiece!