
DATE: Saturday, June 28, 1997               TAG: 9706280354

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CONCERT REVIEW 

SOURCE: BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: HAMPTON                           LENGTH:   81 lines

A NIGHT AT JAZZ FESTIVAL TURNS INTO A CELEBRATION OF THE BLUES

Night 2 at the 30th annual Hampton Blues - uh, Jazz - Festival featured a pair of tasteful guitarists: Robert Cray and the great B.B. King.

Of course, it was King who filled many of the Hampton Coliseum's seats. But Cray, backed by his tight band and The Memphis Horns, sang and played the blues as well as anybody's business.

During solos, Cray seemed to be talking the notes from his guitar. ``The One in The Middle'' featured some great call-and-response playing and full chords, Hendrix-style.

The tune also featured a rolling swing drum part by longtime Cray band drummer Kevin Hays and a great organ solo by Jim Pugh.

Introducing a song from his forthcoming album, ``Sweet Potato Pie,'' Cray said, ``The first piece goes like this.''

With that he launched into the slightly funky, ``Do That for Me,'' the opening cut from the new recording.

It was a good tune.

The man whose plaintive voice and lean guitar gave hope 10 years ago that he might be the torch-bearer for the young blues movement has still got it.

The top moment in the show was ``I'll Go On,'' a great blues tune from 1995's ``Some Rainy Morning,'' one of the best original blues albums in recent memory.

Soon after Cray left the stage, B.B.'s band came out and jammed a little while. Then came the King of the Blues.

The band launched into ``Let the Good Times Roll,'' which featured a run-of-the-mill fantastic solo by King and another great guitar solo by King's backup, Leon Warren.

By the end of the first song, King had the crowd so deep in his pocket, they cheered when he adjusted his britches.

He played other classics such as ``Payin' the Cost to be the Boss'' and then the slow shuffle, ``Darling, You Know I Love You,'' which featured an extended solo full of King's signature vibrato - which has the mature, deep tone that made him a legend.

King's band featured a backing trio of horn players who blew the heck out of the 12-bar blues, especially saxophonist Melvin Jackson. The band had two drummers.

The 71-year-old guitarist reminded the audience that he is ``alive and well.'' When the band played a few songs sitting down, he told the audience, ``Just because we're seated doesn't mean we're tired.''

After 48 years of professional playing, nobody would have minded if he had been a little tired.

In addition to standards such as ``Ain't Nobody's Business,'' he played his own classic, ``The Thrill is Gone,'' which in itself is an American blues landmark.

As good as King and Cray were, there's no escaping the fact that the Jazz Festival was absolutely, positively without jazz Friday night. Calling blues and R&B jazz is like calling McDonald's a Scottish restaurant.

The closest thing to jazz was Tower of Power, the seminal horn-driven R&B act. The Tower, born in Oakland 29 years ago, only has three original members remaining. John Scarpulla, a new addition, had the show's hot moment with two great saxophone solos. ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Singer Brent Carter waves to the Hampton Coliseum crowd as he leads

the Tower of Power in its performance at the Hampton Jazz Festival

Friday. The crowd also enjoyed Robert Cray and blues great B.B.

King.

Robert Payne and B.J. Brown enjoy the Tower of Power performance

Friday night. They have been coming to the Hampton Jazz Festival for

the past 20 years and are huge fans of the group.

Robert Cray entertains the crowd with his song ``Smoking Gun.'' He

also introduced music from his forthcoming album, ``Sweet Potato

Pie.''

CONCERT REVIEW

B.B. King, Robert Cray and Tower of Power, Friday evening at the