Mike Vlahakis

Four days prior to being diagnosed with a malignant lung tumor, Luther Allison played a blistering show in Montreal; it was filmed for later airplay on Canadian television, and most of the show is captured on this DVD. The bitter irony is obvious here -- Allison is at the peak of his powers, and yet at the same time, it could be said that he's playing like a man with only weeks to live. Performers include: Luther Allison: lead guitar, vocals; James Solberg: rhythm & lead guitar; Mike Vlahakis: keyboards; Ken Faltinson: bass; Robb Stupka: drums; and Memphis Horns (Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love).

Documenting Bernard Allison's blues-rock band at the height of their prodigious powers (during Allison's 2005 European tour), this 14-song concert video delivers the goods. With tunes by turns languid and rollicking -- and with a definite penchant for hard rock riffs --Allison and band mates rip (or meander) through such crowd favorites as "I Just Came Back to Say Goodbye" and "The Way Love Was Meant to Be."