"Bonamassa explains the origin of the sprawling tribute, saying, 'It was brought to my attention... that B.B. King would be turning 100... and nobody was planning on doing much. I said we need to do something.'"
"Benson aimed for something deeper than reinterpretation, saying, 'I wasn't trying to give it my own... I was trying to give it the B.B. King swagger,' admitting that capturing that voice and feel was no small task because 'there's only one B.B. King.'"
"Benson recalls the first time King sought him out after hearing whispers from bandmates: 'They told B.B., 'Man, we heard this kid,' and he said, 'I don't believe you.' Then he came down... and from that moment on, I always liked B.B. King.'"
"Bonamassa points out how King blurred lines between genres without ever losing his footing, noting how even in blues numbers, 'he would throw some jazz riffs in there.'"
Joe Bonamassa and George Benson collaborated on B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 to honor B.B. King's legacy. Bonamassa initiated the tribute upon realizing King's 100th birthday was approaching without significant recognition. The project features 40 guests and 32 songs, described by Bonamassa as a labor of love. Benson aimed to capture King's essence rather than reinterpret his work, acknowledging the challenge of embodying King's unique style. Both musicians reflect on their personal connections to King and his influence on their music.
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