其实从某种程度上来说，Albert King才是真正意义上的“布鲁斯之王”，但人们却把此殊荣给予了B.B.King。与B.B.King和Freddie King一样，Albert也是在布鲁斯、摇滚吉他演奏领域中影响极大的人物之一，如果没有他的出现，现代吉他音乐方面也不会呈现出如此繁荣的景象，Albert的音乐影响过许多布鲁斯音乐家从Otis Rush、Robert Cray到Eric Clapton、Stevie Ray Vaughan。至今为止，在所有的布鲁斯吉他演奏家当中，恐怕很少有不受B.B.King音乐影响过的人，但不得不承认Albert便是这少数之一。

 

        Albert右手执琴左手演奏，并且琴弦从未对调，这种与众不同的演奏方式必然会产生出其独特的音阶与音色，其结果往往会使那些热情的模仿者们暴露出东施效颦的尴尬来。专辑《In Session》是Albert King与Stevie Ray Vaughan生前在录音棚中的一次Jam录音版本。两人共同激发出的创作灵感在专辑中随处可见，布鲁斯名曲《Call It Stormy Monday》是Albert在众多场合中必唱的曲目，12/8拍给了吉他独奏更多的展示空间及演绎难度。从歌曲《Ask Me No Questions》中不难看出，Albert的伴奏乐手虽然具备着高超的演奏技艺，但他们彼此之间从未互相“抢戏”，同时却又能激发出彼此的乐思。结尾曲《Don’t Lie To Me》中，我们可以听到Albert和Stevie在一段多次反复的吉他“套子”里，做着炫技的吉他独奏。

 

        上世纪80年代中期，Albert宣布退出乐坛，然而他却一直断断续续地在美国和欧洲举办着巡演，直至1992年12月21日突发心脏病不幸辞世，享年69岁。我知道用文字记录下来的事实与真实之间的差距，但那毕竟是抵达心灵距离最近的驿站。

 

 

 

Recorded for a television program of the same name back in 1983, In Session bills itself as the only known recording of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King, who was Vaughan’s idol and mentor, playing together. That leads to some heavy expectations, which fortunately aren’t disappointed, at least if you aren’t expecting the customary over-the-top performances Vaughan was famous for. His playing here is much more laid-back and controlled, which is actually a recommendation--the stylistic similarities between teacher and student are that much more pronounced. The songs are mostly King concert staples, with the exception of "Pride and Joy"; highlights include the T-Bone Walker classic "Call It Stormy Monday" and one of King’s own, "Overall Junction," which features some excellent guitar solo work. The snippets of recorded conversation between songs are interesting curiosities as well. --Genevieve Williams