The Crusader-Royal Jam

Nothing better to me than a jazz-fusion group playing along side a philharmonic orchestra. This album does not disappoint, and is upgraded due to the presence of BB King. Just great, and one of my favorite albums. Get it!

I love the whole CD, it is so enjoyable and relaxing, it is awesome.

BB King and the Crusaders with the Royal PhilharmonicIf you like good jazz mixed with blues you gotta love this. For the extra sweet it is the Royal Symphonic Orchestra.You haven't heard a rendition of "The thrill is Gone" until you heard this version. Violins in the background, WOWGive yourself a Christmas present; you'll be glad you did.

Intro is too string heavy for me, crowd is very unenthusiastic, but second half of cd is great. Strings are featured too strongly for my taste in the first few tracks, and I get it, they are supposed to be, It's just that I prefer them to be in the background to allow the 'good stuff' to be heard. I bought this out of curiousity, had listened to samples and figured, "why not just buy the whole thing, there might be some good surprizes in there". There are and I would suggest buy this cd if you are a big Crusaders fan and you want to hear them in a totally different environment. That's my point, at times they, the Crusaders and guests, didn't seem particularly comfortable with the full orchestra, the mix and balance was not always quite right, but it does sound as if you are there experiencing a live performance, I'm sure they cut some things out but they also left a lot of things other than music IN, so overall it is an enjoyable experience.

Wonderful live performance by all concerned! This has long been a favorite album of mine on vinyl. Sound on the CD is excellent.

Just understand it was recorded long ago, so the quality isn't as high as today's music. But Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, BB King, jamming with the Royal Philharmonic- it's just too good to pass up!

I bought this cd for the BB King songs. My all time fav is when BB joins in on LAST CALL..Wow!!

RECEIVED, VERY GOOD.

Sound Quality Excellent.The CrusadersWilton Felder – saxophonesJoe Sample – keyboards, arrangements & orchestrationStix Hooper – drums, percussionGuest artistsB.B. King - vocals, guitarJosie James - vocals (on "Burnin' Up The Carnival" and "Street Life")Members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Conductor: Sidney Reginald GarrisGuest musiciansBarry Finnerty, David T. Walker - guitarJames Jamerson Jr. - bassEfraim Logreira - special percussionRecorded Live at the Royal Festival Hall London 1981Originally released in 1982 Printed in the U.S.A.The Crusaders experimented with orchestral/jazz fusions in concert with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra and BB King - and MCA thought captured the music in London's Royal Festival Hall one fine summer. Crusader pianist/sparkplug Joe Sample arranged and orchestrated all of the Royal Philharmonic's parts himself. So, the Crusaders still had their signature rhythm section pumping away, with drummer Stix Hooper in a particularly propulsive mood all night -- and they carry the orchestra easily along in the funky groove. Fellow MCA signee B.B. King slips on to the stage, first in a stomping "The Thrill Is Gone" and then in one of the most infectious tracks he or the Crusaders ever cut, "Better Not Look Down." It's a master class in economy, every guitar note landing squarely in Stix's pocket, Sample matching every brief lick with a funky comment on the electric piano, the King's command over the British audience complete. King also tries out the big Crusaders vocal hit "Street Life," but this time, guest singer Josie James has him beat -- and there are some evidently unplanned numbers for King and the Crusaders as encores. Elsewhere, guitarist David T. Walker is on-hand to provide economic, to-the-point commentary in his own style; James is also featured in an exuberant "Burnin' Up the Carnival." Apart from his reliable comping on electric piano. Sample also provides some elaborate elegance on solo acoustic piano on "Fly With Wings of Love," while tenor player Wilton Felder acts as the genial emcee. The original double-LP issue took in the second half of the programs in London -- about an hour of music, easily transferable to one CD -- and it's one of the band's most enjoyable albums.

I was at this concert when it was recorded and I remember being amazed by the high quality playing of all the musicians and also the sound in the Royal Festival Hall - it was crystal clear.Now here is the bad news - the recording isn't crystal clear and the whole thing sounds flat - despite it claiming to come from a digital master.I love the fact that I have a recording of the amazing evening, but it's a shame that the CD sound quality isn't quite there. On the positive side, the playing by everyone is excellent!

Ohhh just nabbed the fantastic BB King & Bobby Bland double live album on CD, had that one on vinyl for years - and captured it for less than £2.00 here :)Anyway, I was at this RFH gig by BB and the Crusaders....a stately occasion by blues & jazz royalty!Fondly remembered from when I lived in London and saw so many gigs and venues - the cool David T Walker was on guitar here too, and Wilton Felder was sooo classy!I think I'll have to invest in this CD version, didn't know it was a great low price until this search...you can hear my whistles in the cheering (but NOT during the playing, that would be naff!)Buy with confidence, it was a majestic concert.

I prefer listening to the Crusaders in the raw, without the backing of a full orchestra. That said, the sound and the music was far better than I expected.

I too was at the concert , and I forgot how excited I was that I would be seeing David T Walker performing with the Crusaders , someone who I had heard playing on so many records . It was a fantastic concert , the Crusaders grooved , I bought the double LP when it came out in '82 but only played it a few times . I am really pleased to have it on CD now , it even sounds better than I remember , and I have listened to it more than I did first time round .