There are both good and bad points to this CD. Of the latter, the Phillip Morris "Super Band" is confined to background work with -- other than a few spots for Plas Johnson's tenor -- no soloists being heard from. As an ensemble, the all-star orchestra performs well, but is essentially anonymous. Also, despite the backing, B.B. King does not attempt to play jazz, a wasted opportunity. But, switching to the good points, Live at the Apollo is an excellent example of a strong B.B. King live performance. Somehow he always makes his combination of blues and familiar hits sound fresh. With a liberal amount of space set aside for his guitar solos, B.B. is in top form throughout the well-paced set, which is far superior to most of his overproduced studio sessions for MCA. Even if the big band is mostly irrelevant, this CD is recommended for B.B. King's singing and playing. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Harry "Sweets" Edison (Trumpet), Robin Eubanks (Trombone), Urbie Green (Trombone), Gene Harris (Piano), Gene Harris (Conductor), Plas Johnson (Sax (Tenor)), Ralph Moore (Sax (Tenor)), James Morrison (Trumpet), Gary Smulyan (Sax (Tenor)), George Bohannon (Trombone), Ray Brown (Bass), Kenny Burrell (Guitar), Jeff Clayton (Sax (Alto)), Dave Grusin (Executive Producer), Joseph Doughney (Post Production), Glen Drews (Trumpet), Chris Dunn (Technical Support), Paul Faulise (Trombone), Josiah Gluck (Producer), Josiah Gluck (Engineer), Josiah Gluck (Mixing), Carl Griffin (Producer), Carl Griffin (Engineer), Carl Griffin (Mixing), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Harold Jones (Drums), B.B. King (Guitar), B.B. King (Vocals), B.B. King (Main Performer), Michael Landy (Post Production), Morris Lane (Photography), Michelle Lewis (Production Coordination), John McClure (Engineer), John McClure (Associate Engineer), Andy McKaie (Reissue Supervisor), Sonny Mediana (Graphic Design), Sonny Mediana (Design), Joe Mossello (Trumpet), Kevin Reeves (Remastering), Larry Rosen (Executive Producer), Sidney Seidenberg (Producer), Sidney Seidenberg (Executive Producer), Andrew Whist (Liner Notes), David Gibb (Graphic Design), David Gibb (Design), Dan Serrano (Graphic Design), Dan Serrano (Design), Andy Baltimore (Creative Director), Andy Ruggirello (Graphic Design), Andy Ruggirello (Design), Isabelle Wong (Design), J.B. Chupick (Mixing Assistant), J.B. Chupick (Assistant), Michael V. DiCosimo (Technical Support), Hollis King (Art Direction), Gene Harris & the Philip Morris Superband (?), Anthony Benjamin (Assistant Engineer), Anthony Benjamin (Assistant), Ron Bowen (Assistant Engineer), Ron Bowen (Assistant), Scott Johnson (Design), George Bohanon (Trombone), Jerry Dodgion (Sax (Alto)), Cameron Mizell (Production Coordination), Scott Albert Johnson (Graphic Design), Ted Jenson (Mastering)
