Personnel: Robert Cray (vocals, guitar); Robert Cray; Jim Pugh (keyboards); Kevin Hayes (drums); Karl Sevareid.

Audio Mixer: Don Smith .

Recording information: Royal Albert Hall.

Robert Cray has been quietly turning out consistently solid blues efforts since 1980, and 2006's two-CD set LIVE FROM ACROSS THE POND shows that Cray's brand of smooth, accessible blues has only improved over the years. Cray has a soft spot for the sound of 1960s R&B, a fondness reflected brilliantly in his sharp, tuneful songwriting and deeply soulful singing. Many of these songs wouldn't sound out of place on a Stax/Volt platter circa 1968, but Cray's flawless guitar technique keeps things rooted in the tradition of electric blues. Packed with great tunes and solos, LIVE should please fans of Cray and electric blues in general.

Live from Across the Pond finds blues guitarist Robert Cray and his band performing live over seven nights in May 2005 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. A journeyman guitarist with a knack for mixing a classic electric blues sound with various contemporary pop sounds, Cray has remained a consistent if underappreciated artist since his 1986 crossover/breakthrough album Strong Persuader. Recorded on the heels of the similarly stellar studio effort Twenty, this two-disc set features Cray and co. in superb form moving from straight-up blues, to soul-infused pop and gutbucket ballads. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Live from Across the Pond works well as both an encapsulation and introduction to Cray's unique, eclectic blues sound. ~ Matt Collar

Down Beat (p.65) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Giving it his all, Cray discovers new wrinkles on lust or forlorn love in old standbys as well as recent songs."