by Matt CollarLive 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.