BB King and Matt Murphy – The April Challenge Uncut! (Parts 1 & 2)

[Bruce D]

For last week’s April 2022 Challenge, I recorded over the entire 5 minute jam track from EP435 (the BB King Zone!), but only posted the first few choruses to keep it short for the challenge. Now here’s the entire thing, the rest of the story.

It is first of all, a tribute to BB King using Brian’s lesson as a starting point. In Part 2, it goes right into a tribute to my favorite Blues Brother, Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy, who did a track called High Jack at Antone’s in Austin, that this is lifted from. Then back to BB to wrap it up.

We open with some background and a couple of stories, but if you want to get right to the good stuff, skip to 6:45.

Thanks again to Brian and all you Active Melodians for having this forum for those of us who would never attempt this at some open mic night.

So here’s the tribute to two of the greats. It can never be played as well as the originals, but I’m sure they would agree that the point is to keep playing these tunes, keep their music out there, and keep the blues alive!

Here ya go . . .

Just focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola

[charjo]

Love the licks you have collected over the years, Bruce, and you know how to put them together so well. Can’t see your fingers but I get the impression most of this is accomplished with mixed pentatonics in box 1 and 2 and the B.B. box but, of course, it’s your phrasing that makes it so good.
John

[Juxi]

Bruce‘s bombastic B.B.-Blues Brothers-Blues becomes better and better …
I love part 2, Bruce, intro and all. A enormous set of licks ensures that listening is enjoyable throughout the whole backing track. And what a fantastic ending! Hammergeil! Everything is played with so much style and B.B. flair. 🤩👍🏽👍🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Garry]

Top stuff Bruce! Thanks for the preamble and stories along the way. Yes the ‘one piece of art’ is a keeper and The Blues Brothers is a classic. And your playing here is your finest. Kudos for being able to improvise over this many cycles but more importantly keeping the listener engaged for the duration. Love the repeated notes just before the 11.00 mark and the licks just keep on rollin’. You could walk into any Blues Band around and hold your own. Keep on pickin’ Bruce and thanks for sharing this. All the best! 🥸🎸🥸

[James B]

Great entertainment, Bruce. Captivating from the intro to the outro.

James

[Bill]

Very nice sounding Bruce. Great BB tone and licks!

[Leo Lutz]

Solid! 🙌

LL

[Tom D]

What a GREAT performance Bruce. You told a captivating story from start to finish. An amazing blues expression. Loved it.

Cheers, Tom

[Bruce D]

Thanks! for all the comments and support. I really had a lot of fun with this one. Glad to be able to try to emulate two of the greats.

Bruce

Just focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola

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