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Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
Friday, March 14, 2008
If you are a fan of the blues and the guitar then this DVD could be your idea of musical nirvana. By Brian Wise.
ERIC CLAPTON
CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2007
RHINO/REPRISE
Eric Clapton’s recently published autobiography relates some harrowing stories, sometimes in a surprisingly matter-of-fact style (though that might be put down to the ghost writer or editor). The basic plot reveals a man who spent much of his life in emotional torment and severe addiction to drugs or alcohol – or both simultaneously. It is amazing that he managed to survive at all.
These days Clapton is living a happier, calmer life of a family man (having recovered from the tragedy of his son Conor’s untimely death). He hunts and fishes on his country estate – a far cry from his days of addiction when he might spend months locked away in his own private hell.
The worst parts of the story often relate to the innocent bystanders who were drawn into the vortex of the drug scene and subsequently destroyed. In some cases Clapton is brave enough to write about these people (some very close) but there must be scores more who fell by the wayside, the forgotten victims of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
It was the convergence of his own guilt, the fact that he broke free of his addictions and his visits to Antigua (where he owns a house) that finally convinced Clapton that he could do something practical to help other addicts. It might turn out to be one of his greatest achievements and certainly a fitting legacy.
In 1998 Clapton founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. It provides affordable rehabilitation and financial assistance for locals as well as its own 12-step program. However, the facility is also open to others and, according to the liner notes of the DVD, the majority of clients come from outside Antigua.
Soon after he established the facility Clapton found out that the cost of setting up the foundation to run the centre, building it, staffing it and maintaining it was considerable and he needed to devise a way of financing it. Thus the Crossroads Guitar Festival was born, first in Dallas, Texas and last year took place in Chicago.
The show is opened by actor/comedian Bill Murray who gives my guitar-playing aspirations somewhat of a fillip by playing and singing possibly the worst ever-live version of Van Morrison’s ‘Gloria’ (which he notes was better known to Americans through Shadows Of Knight version).
It is an amusing entrée and, musically, it is all uphill from there as Clapton introduces Sonny Landreth - who proves a little more adept than Murray. Why has he never been to Australia? He plays an instrumental ‘Uberesso’ with his own band and is then joined by Clapton for ‘Hell At Home.’ This is followed by the amazing John McLaughlin on ‘Maharina.’
For fans of Clapton’s music it was wonderful to see him touring last year with Doyle Bramhall and Derek Trucks in the band and reprising his Derek & the Dominos material – one of the high points of his career. They are featured on ‘Tell The Truth’ and George Harrison’s ‘Isn’t It A Pity’ and ‘Little Queen Of Spades.’ The band sounds superb. Both those guitarists make separate appearances here with Trucks also on stage with his wife Susan Tedeschi on a great reading of ‘Little By Little.’ Which reminds me that Tedeschi’s fabulous studio album; the Joe Henry-produced Hope & Desire should have been a huge success. It is also great to see Johnny Winter back, this time with Trucks’ band on ‘Highway 61 Revisited.’
The guest list is incredible and one suspects that only someone like Clapton could possibly pull it all together. There are few nods to commercial appeal – maybe only Sheryl Crow and John Mayer (which is not damning them with faint praise). There are also few compromises in the material. Here is a real contemporary blues festival par excellence. As you might expect there is enthusiastic at every solo – and there are plenty of them from what appears to be a largely white male audience.
There are some nice segues in the running order of the DVD (whether this occurred live I am not sure). Robert Cray slows things down with the soulful message-ballad ‘Poor Johnny,’ is then joined by Jimmie Vaughan for ‘Dirty Work At The Crossroads.’ Then Hubert Sumlin appears for ‘Sitting On Top Of The World’ and BB King completes the line-up for ‘Paying The Cost To Be Boss’ and ‘Rock Me Baby.’
A change of mood is provided by Vince Gill, Albert Lee, Sheryl Crow (who is joined by Clapton for ‘Tulsa Time’ ) and then Willie Nelson (‘Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain’ and ‘On The Road Again’). John Mayer acquits himself well in the shadow of other guests. Los Lobos provide ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ and ‘Mas Y Mas’ and sound as brilliant as ever. Jeff Beck’s two selections with Tal Wilkenfeld on bass - ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers’ and ‘Big Block’- leave you wanting more.
Robbie Roberston teams with Clapton for a rollicking ‘Who Do You Love’. However, the highlight of the entire 4 1/2 hour double disc set is Clapton’s pairing with old Blind Faith compatriot Steve Winwood (on B3 and guitar) for ‘Presence Of the Lord’, ‘Can’t Find My Way Home,’ ‘Had To Cry Today’ and the mandatory ‘Crossroads.’ Winwood also does ‘Dear Mr Fantasy.’ They are both in superlative voice.
Appropriately, the show’s closing act is Buddy Guy - the greatest living Chicago electric blues player and the man who inspired Clapton. He quickly proves he is the master on ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ and a stunning ‘Damn Right I Got The Blues.’ The show is closed with other cast members joining Guy for ‘Sweet Home Chicago.’
If you are a fan of the blues and the guitar then this DVD could be your idea of musical nirvana.
Brian Wise
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