Ben Poole
Album: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Label: Manhaton
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.benpooleband.com

Ben Poole is one lucky guy. There's not many 25-year-olds can boast a live album and even fewer can say it was recorded by the BBC at the Albert Hall.

This album was recorded for the Paul Jones Show on Radio 2 at the 2013 Bluesfest in London.

It is a great showcase of this lad's considerable talents. And this guy is so funky. Backed by a superb band, his guitar playing is fluid and under-stated, even tasteful.

Of course he let's rip -as on Love Nobody No More.

This is a classy set, featuring a great version of the Temptations' song (I Know) I'm Losing You - complete with a nod to Deep Purple, a soulful Mr Pitiful, the Otis Redding classic, and Freddie King's masterpiece Have You Ever Loved A Woman - which features some amazing guitar gymnastics.

It Doesn't Have to be That Way, a self penned song, features sweet interplay between guitar and keyboard and another monster guitar solo.

Then to wrap the album up, there's Starting All Over Again - a funky new song which hints at what the new album is going to sound like. I for one can't wait!

John Knighton