Buddy Guy

Veteran blues guitar hero Buddy Guy isn't afraid to call himself a legend. In fact, that's the name of his Chicago blues club, so it makes sense he'd record a live album there. Along with B.B. King, Guy is one of the few American stars of that generation still around. As this record shows, he still has serious chops as a player and his gruff vocals fit his material well. He's known as an extroverted performer and that comes across here (he mimics his pal Eric Clapton pretty accurately at one point). The eight live cuts are augmented by three previously unreleased studio recordings, including album highlight "I'm Coming For You" and Guy's cover of Muddy Waters classic "Country Boy." Studio greats used effectively on these cuts include David Grissom, Reese Wynans and the Memphis Horns. Guy pays homage to some of his influences via covers of Hendrix ("Voodoo Chile"), John Lee Hooker ("Boom Boom") and Cream ("Sunshine of Your Love" and "Strange Brew"), while original fave "Damn Right I Got The Blues" is given a strong rendition. The live performance sags in parts, but Guy fans will find plenty to enjoy.