REVIEW

Music DVD Review: Eric Clapton & Friends - Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007

Written by El Bicho
Published December 04, 2007

Written by General Jabbo

In 1998, after many years of dealing with his own drug and alcohol addictions, Eric Clapton founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, West Indies. In an effort to raise money for the facility, Clapton held a benefit concert - the Crossroads Guitar Festival - in Chicago last July. This two-DVD set features four hours of highlights from the all-day event.

Emceed by Bill Murray, Crossroads is a who's who of guitar greats from elder statesmen such as B.B. King and Buddy Guy to young axe-slingers such as Derek Trucks and Robert Randolph. Murray opened the show with a solo version of the only song he knew how to play on guitar, "Gloria." As Murray struggled along, Clapton watched from the side of the stage, puzzled, until he decided to join in on the song. Clapton later said if Murray "really knew how to play guitar, we'd all be in trouble."

Up next was Sonny Landreth, with his instrumental, "Uberesso," featuring many fast picking runs and a lot of excellent slide playing. Clapton joined Landreth onstage for "Hell at Home."

Jazz-fusion legend, John McLaughlin took the stage with an inspired version of "Maharina," while occasional Clapton band member, Doyle Bramhall II, dedicated his version of "Outside Woman Blues" to Clapton. Bramhall's arrangement stuck very close to the one Clapton used when he was in Cream.

The Derek Trucks Band did a set of their own material and also backed the likes of Susan Tedeschi and Johnny Winter, the latter turning in a searing version of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited."

Robert Randolph, played a blistering version of "Nobodysoul" that had the whole crowd rocking. He plays the pedal steel guitar, an instrument usually associated with country music, more like Jimi Hendrix would.

Blues legend B.B. King joined the Robert Cray Band, as well as Jimmy Vaughan and Hubert Sumlin for "Paying the Cost to be the Boss" and "Rock Me Baby," with King playing his signature licks on his trademark "Lucille" guitar.

page 1 | 2
This writer is a member of The Masked Movie Snobs, a collective that fights a never-ending battle against bad entertainment.
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
Music DVD Review: Eric Clapton & Friends - Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
Published: December 04, 2007
Type: Review
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: Blues, Music: Classical, Music: Country and Americana, Music: Instrumental, Music: Jazz, Music: Live Concerts, Music: Rock, Music: Video, Review, Video: Music
Writer: El Bicho
El Bicho's BC Writer page
El Bicho's personal site
Spread the Word
Like this article?
Email this
Submit to del.icio.us Save to del.icio.us
RSS Feeds
All RSS Feeds (240+)
Comments on this article
BC articles by El Bicho
Music: Blues
Music: Classical
Music: Country and Americana
Music: Instrumental
Music: Jazz
Music: Live Concerts
Music: Rock
Music: Video
Review
Video: Music
All Music Articles
El Bicho's personal weblog
All Review articles
All BC articles
All BC Comments

Comments

#1 — December 5, 2007 @ 11:29AM — Keith [URL]

It was actually Albert Lee playing guitar and not Albert Collins. Unfortunately Albert Collins has already left us.

#2 — December 5, 2007 @ 14:40PM — General Jabbo [URL]

Thanks for pointing that out. Have no idea why I was typing that as I know who both are. Mea culpa!

Want comments emailed to you? No spam, promise! Address:

Add your comment, speak your mind

(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/71674)

Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.





Remember Name/URL?

Please preview your comment!

Fresh
Articles
Fresh
Comments