In Session Deluxe

What can I possibly say about an album that tore me through so many mixed emotions? Elation, Astonishment, Joy, Wonder, Sorrow and Sadness. The later two from having seen both in concert, separately, and knowing they were both gone. Thanks to an Amazon suggestion they linked me to this set and I am deeply grateful. I thought it was a double CD then found out it had a DVD. Both were astounding, exhilarating, and a true joy to experience. My only criticism is that there is not a second CD of the DVD music, but I am making one for myself. An old master and the new kid on the block tore through these sets and both complimented and learned from each other. It was not until repeated viewings of the DVD that I confirmed my CD assumptions: Stevie played in a higher more clipped register, and Albert was a lower tone more classic blues influenced. This will eventually change during the DVD session. In the DVD "Texas Flood" is the extended set piece that will astound you with the virtuosity and flexibility of both. Stevie plays mostly on the lower neck and lower body for a more clipped tone. Albert is higher on the neck and plays at the top of the body. On one hand off Albert will adopt Stevie's style, then Stevie will do the same, You can see and feel the affection and appreciation both have for each other. Never do they try to out do the other, they blend into a compliment of styles like rarely seen before with two musicians with such widely varied techniques. Albert does vibrato with his hand and Stevie rocks the entire guitar. Stevie uses a pick and Albert is a finger picker. He even tells Stevie that he's "gotta show me to use that thing" in admiration of the style difference. Earlier he looks at Stevie with admiration and says; "Your pretty good...but your going to get better". Stevie seems to blush when Albert compliments him several times during the session. Stevie changes guitars a couple of times but Albert stays with his Flying V for the session. The bottom line is this is one of the best session albums, of any genera, that I have ever heard. I have had it barely four days and have played the CD 5 times and the DVD twice, the third session will be tonight. If you have not purchased this set yet, do it now. Buy it for your best friends, they will love you for it, especially if they are unfamiliar with these two astounding artists. I recommend you also pick up at least Albert Kings "Crosscut Saw", or any of his many albums, I have seven and want more. I currently have 13 SRV albums and hope they keep finding more tapes in the archives. Just a note about the "In Session" CD/DVD. Several years back STAX records did put out an "In Session" CD but it does not include the DVD, so buy this one for the complete audio and visual experience. Finally, this is what music is all about. You can take all your current batch of artificially produced and aurally enhanced "stars" and put them in the same box, regardless of styles, of sameness and repetition. If all you do is listen to MP3's on your earbuds, pass on this. This is real music, real emotion, meant to be played through an actual amplifier with real speakers reproducing the sound. In my case that would be a 400 watt Yamaha and four Polk stacks rattling my Den walls...now that is music. Enjoy!

Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughn. How can you get any better? Super CD. Love it.

Just watch this last night for the first time and it gave me chills. The hair on the back of my neck literally stood up while watching two of the blues greatest guitarist at the pinnacle of their powers play together with such joy. The DVD release is long over due. Like many people knowing that there is more material out there I would like to have seen a more complete release. The CD has three songs that are not on the DVD and the DVD has three songs not on the CD. Hopefully we will not have to wait another 11 years before double CD\DVD sets come out. Also, it would have been great if the film continued to roll at the very end when they are finished with their jam. Man what a release and at a great price.I have long said that SRV best release is actually an Albert King album In Sessions shows a young Stevie playing with restraint, but with great joy. Albert really puts in the effort and it was great to see him backing up Stevie on songs like 'Don't you lie to me'. Albert does a great job on the two Stevie tunes (Texas Flood and Pride and Joy). Albert is clearly holding court and Stevie is only too happy to be playing with his idol.The back up band is excellent and they are clearly enjoying the session as much as Stevie and Albert. It is great to see and hear Albert with a high quality back up band - this has not always been the case with Mr. King throughout his career. Speaking of high quality the sound and video quality is excellent. This is basically studio quality sound. Thank god this meeting was captured. Leave it to the Canadians to capture one of America's most significant cultural contributions.If you have only the CD - buy this right away. If you don't have either and are a blues fan - buy it right away. If you like good music - buy this right away. Let's hope they release the whole thing someday. Its an important piece of work that needs to see the light of day.

Found this set on Amazon and decided to buy it - for the price, with a CD and DVD, it was a no-brainer.I've got all of SRV's albums, most of the posthumous releases including the SRV box set, and a bunch of videos. I also remember where and what I was doing in 1990 when I heard Stevie died. For some reason I don't have any of Albert King's stuff, though after watching this video that's going to change.The playing on this set is incredible and is now my favorite live DVD. The back-and-forth between SRV and King and the musicianship here is mind-blowing. The performance is from 1983, so it's prior to the frenetic editing of present-day live shows, and there are a lot of long, lingering camera shots of these guys playing their hearts out, with a great angle of what they're both doing on the guitar. For any guitar players, this should be required viewing. Specifically, there's one spot about 25 minutes in where King does a couple of slow, insane bends that have so much emotion in them it's spine-tingling.There's no live audience (it was filmed in a studio) so there's no distraction from a crowd -- these guys are just performing for themselves, and for each other. In my opinion, this makes it even better and shows what performers they both were.They banter a little bit over and between songs, and it feels like a really personal conversation between a mentor and his protégée (which it is).This CD/DVD set is so well worth the money that if you're a huge blues fanatic or just curious about the blues, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

Very good sound. Good movie (16:9). In 1983!

Qué gran disco!, la edición especial con DVD es aun mejor. Para amantes del blues, para amantes de extraordinarios guitarristas, en fin, un disco que no te cansas de escuchar.Además el precio que pagué fue menor que el disco que no incluye el DVD, qué más puedo pedir?,Uno de mis guitarristas favoritos, disco edición especial, importado, a precio excelente, realmente una compra sin ningún pero.-

Dos de los mejores guitarristas de la historia en una sesión maravillosa

Great Product,but I'm most impressed with the speed of delivery.Top Quality.

I have this album on 200g audiophile double vinyl and it absolutely blew me away in terms of the recording quality, the synergy between the artists and the quality of the music.I wanted the CD for occasions when I don't have access to my record player or for easier listening sessions. The CD version cannot quite approach the sheer dynamics and naturalness of the vinyl but remains an absolutely superb listen with great clarity and soaring dynamics. It really does sound like the performers are right before you through a good 2 channel system.Anyone who loves blues guitar really must try this and anyone who isn't sure should also try it....you may just get hooked. To my mind it showcases 2 masters of the art in a rare performance together, each giving it their all but without ever trying to outdo the other or steal the show.