Frail but still singing the blues

B.B. King captured the hearts of audience members last night.

The evening had opened with R&B musician James Hunter, who had transported concert goers back in time to the fifties with his rock ‘n’ roll sound. Damian Hand and Lea Badea added that extra special little something to Hunter’s performance with their brilliant saxophone playing.

However, it was the King of Blues, B.B. King, who the excited crowd had really come to see, and unsurprisingly it was his performance that stole the show. Riviera Times reporter Jill Levison, who was at the festival, explains, "Everyone was concerned B.B. King was too feeble to make it. He was led on very, very late and sat down, and was a bit wobbly at first. Then his natural showmanship took over."

King, who turns an incredible 86 this September, along with his faithful guitarist, Lucille, played plenty of favorites, including ‘Rock Me Baby’, ‘Everyday I Have the Blues’ and ‘When Love Comes to Town’. "I’ve never felt such love, adoration even, from an audience," Levison told us, before summing up the night in two words: "Magic and moving".

Read Levinson's full report in The RT's August issue.

Forthcoming performances in the festival include the Best of Jazz Off, Santana, Alex Tassel and a hommage to John William. More information can be found www.jazzajuan.com.

Nathalie Miraval