Do you know that beautiful moment when two people get together and learn from each other?
Well, it’s even better when two musicians do it.
We bring you the jam between a mentor and his mentee, Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
These two kings are actually on stage in a mind-blowing jazz duo performance!
The gig is part of the live filming of the In Session album.
King and Vaughan got together in 1983 and recorded a live album for television at CHCH-TV studios in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
This is one of the 11 songs the duo performed that day, and it’s special because you get to hear a little conversation between two great musicians where Albert gives out his little tips and tricks.
Stevie Ray was 29 at the time, and King was more than twice his age.
It was all released as an album in 1999. The album’s material is mostly King’s concert line-up, and it’s very interesting that Albert King first didn’t want to play because he didn’t know who Vaughan was.
He eventually agreed after realizing that it’s the “little Stevie” he let sit in when he played in Texas.
We’re glad the duo decided to collaborate in the end, because In Session ended up being one of the most valuable blues albums.
Both men were incredible musicians!
Stephen Ray Vaughan was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.
He was best known as Stevie, the frontman of the blues-rock band Double Trouble. Unfortunately, Vaughan’s mainstream career only spanned seven years, because he died in a helicopter crash at the age of 35. Regardless of the short time on the scene, Steve was a heavily awarded musician and is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in the history of blues music.
His fellow musician and role model Albert Nelson was of the three kings of blues, alongside B.B. King and Freddie King.
Hence the stage name Albert King. Known for his “deep, dramatic sound,” King was imitated by both blues and rock musicians. King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983, the same year that this video was made.
Sadly, he died of a heart attack in 1992.
We’re lucky to have two legends on film because their work will forever serve as an inspiration.
What makes the In Session album so special is that it includes every little chat between songs.
The same happens here. Stevie and King are about to perform “Don’t Lie To Me,” a blues song originally recorded by Tampa Red in 1940. Before the actual play, King says to Ray that he’s good, but he could be a lot better. Probably the best part of the video is seeing the enormous respect and admiration in Stevie’s eyes.
He reminded us of what it means to learn from someone.
There is no ego, just a pure appreciation on Stevie’s side. That’s how you become the greatest—by being humble in front of those you can learn from. The performance is probably one of the best things we’ve heard in a while! King’s voice and Stevie playing the guitar—perfect! We just have to mention another legend in the video, a man on the bass, Gus Thornton.
Since it was posted, this awesome session earned more than three million YouTube views.
We’re almost certain that most of the viewers were taken through time with the incredible performance.
King certainly demonstrated why he was called like that, and Stevie Ray added the perfect amount of youthful rebel in the mix. It’s certainly a video that deserves to be played more than once!
Check out the full performance in the link below:
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
