Half of
Sonny Is King is devoted to a rare session between
Sonny Terry and
Lightnin' Hopkins. The two guitarists are supported by bassist
Leonard Gaskin and drummer
Belton Evans, but the rhythm section fails to kick the pair into overdrive, and much of the music disappointingly meanders. Sometimes change is not a good thing. That's proven by the second side of the album, where
Terry falls into the comfortable setting of duetting with Brownie McGhee. While these aren't among the duo's very best recordings, they are nonetheless enjoyable, suggesting that there's something to be said for the familiar. ~ Thom Owens