Review: Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan ‘In Session (Deluxe Edition)’
By Hal Horowitz
The initial release of this December 6,1983 meeting of the guitar greats appeared in 1999, 16 years after the once-in-a-lifetime event was mostly forgotten. By then, Stevie Ray Vaughan had already been gone for nine years and Albert King for seven, together leaving legacies that have become more revered over the decades.
Few knew then that the entire show, recorded in an Ontario studio for broadcast on Canadian television, was not included on the single, hour-long disc. However, it was reissued in 2009 with a DVD that did include three songs missing from that audio disc, but only as video. Frustratingly, the other audio tunes were not on the DVD.
In an effort to straighten out this confusion for what is clearly an invaluable slice of blues history, on Oct. 18th, the compilers gather all ten tracks the twosome dug into for this double CD package deluxe ‘In Session.’ However, this expanded issue does not include the DVD for reasons unexplained.
Regardless, the three additions (“Born Under a Bad Sign,” a scorching 20 minutes of “Texas Flood,” and 23 more minutes of “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town”), totaling just under an hour, are absolutely worth hearing. Vaughan, as the then new kid on the block, was unsurprisingly on the reverent side, somewhat toning down his attack by not stealing attention from the iconic King (just 60 at the time). King, whose three-piece road band backed the twosome, was a little past his prime but remained in feisty form. The playing was powerful enough for this full performance to be made available before now. Unfortunately, the session’s video appears to be lost to time.
This edition kicks off with King’s signature “Born Under a Bad Sign.” Albert lets Vaughan take the first solo which has all the trademarks of his style. Fierce and fiery, he slashes out with the potency that characterized his recently released debut. There’s no mistaking King’s influence on Vaughan, but Stevie’s melodic sense, mixed with his tone, staccato, and sheer showmanship displays how he elaborated on and even augmented the elder bluesman’s approach.
This set only includes two Vaughan vocals. The title track to ‘Texas Flood’ allows King room to reminisce about letting the young guitar prodigy, then known as “Little Stevie,” jump on stage with him years ago at Austin’s Antones club. Vaughan responds with another intense solo that leaves King shaking his head in awe (that’s apparent on the DVD) of how that young kid has progressed.
Nine minutes of the classic slow blues “Stormy Monday” has the participants turning in subtle yet searing work. King is in excellent voice, consistently howling out “ahhh” as he was known to do when the music really heated up. He encourages Vaughan to “go ahead” and extend his solos. Thankfully there were no time limits, letting these longer jams flow to their natural conclusions.
“Pride and Joy,” the other Vaughan vocal, gets King revved-up by the standard Texas shuffle. Stevie is invigorated and vibrant, shooting out six-string sparks while remaining seated (all the participants were sitting or on stools), and King meets him note-for-note. It’s apparent that the senior statesman is pushed by Vaughan’s obvious talent, urging him out of his comfort zone. His playing is just short of his earlier years. Organist Tony Llorens gets the spotlight leading off the instrumental “Overall Junction” which finds the two guitarists dueling, each pushing the envelope on their energized playing.
The closing slow blues of “….Outskirts” starts with both laying back, picking delicate jazzy fills as the backing band is barely heard. It’s the tastiest moment of the gig, allowing the men to gracefully ease into lengthy solos. But it builds to an explosive conclusion that, even at its extended third of an hour length, never feels drawn out.
Even those who already own this essential live meeting of the blues minds should consider springing for the updated reissue. It further illuminates a historic moment in blues which thankfully has (finally) been archived in its entirety for future generations to marvel at.
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Watch ‘In Session’ Trailer
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