The concept works fine; people come to experience my sake BB King, ZZ Top, Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow or Clapton himself, in single appearance or most times one with the other and ultimately felt somehow times each with each, also on three, four or much guitarists just geradeso fit on the stage and go home with some new name in mind. Before three years counted, for example, Gary Clark Jr. The young unknowns and put a grandiose appearance with his magnetic stomping blues-rock "Bright lights" out -. His debut album "Blak & Blu" (sic!) The following year, reached number 6 in the Billboard charts! Clark jr. Is in the US today no longer a secret and was now in 2013 already an awaited highlight of the fourth "Crossroads Guitar Festival".
Of all the four multi-day events appeared bulging double DVDs and conserved each five hours of brilliant music of guitar madman Guitar Batty, executives; Blues in all its forms, outlaw country, rock, jazz, has become a worldwide hit classic blues standards, experiments, fresh new songs - heart what you want more ?!
Nothing really, just the entire CD would be nice, I thought to myself at any rate in 2004, 2007 and 2010. Because so great the respective DVDs are: how many times have you time and leisure simultaneously for five hours at a stretch this big musical event with full concentration to give; to lend him not only ears but also eyes?
Not true, unfortunately - Well, I've called Eric and told him ....
It must either have worked telepathically or a few more people harbored the desire and have the record company inundated with messages. From this year's festival live album is now available for the first time a double CD before - and what a!
The tracklist was perforce of 45 songs on the DVD to now 29 slashed, also presentations and extra interspersed interview sequences the DVD version were of course omitted so that two brimful CDs with 150 minutes came out fine guitar songs - pure music, entire stylistic range of the two days in April mapping.
So chasing a highlight after another. Clapton opened quietly with "Tears in Heaven" which mutates to a light reggae and turns into a gorgeous reclined rendition of "Lay Down Sally" - since the first Guitar Duet has already happened, as early as the second song Vince joins Gill with his instrument to do so.
Whether then the seven minute "Green Onions", the Booker T. with the same five guitarists (including Keb 'Mo' and Albert Lee) publicly burn down; or later, the explosions in the coincidence of Doyle Bramhall II, once with John Mayer and times with the already mentioned Gary Clark Jr .; or Sonny Landreth, of his slide guitar elicits completely alien sounds; or even and especially the gossamer posts by Earl Klugh - in all frequency ranges and volumes of very different pieces, the album is an absolutely audiophile pleasure! Clear, dynamic and transparent; You can almost hear the instruments breathe. All instruments were apparently perfectly accepted and mastered in the studio with a lot of soul. For a live album in the recording artist and instruments constantly alternated on stage, an almost exceptional sound quality and -experience.
Although Clapton always are unpretentious, stressed all parties highlighting and hired himself more as a sideman, include the special moments but fails him. "Key to the Highway" at the end together with Keith Richards is undoubtedly such an almost musical historic moment. A standard, safe, and a thousand times heard, but the two dinosaurs, both of which have plenty of pages written in thick book full of music history, do again what outrageous special of it.
Has also nice that Clapton "Got to get better on a Little While" played well here and put the song on the album. Those first single of the then but never finished and never published second Derek and the Dominos album from 1971, Clapton appeared rediscovered in recent months for themselves and play the number at a phenomenal pleasure in a very cool new arrangement at every opportunity in the last twelve months. For the first time at 12-12-12 All-Star Charity Concert for the victims of Hurricane Sandy (then also at Madison Square Garden), with all its concerts tour in 2013 and as the penultimate song here on his festival. Well so, the song was in 1971 well, but the new arrangement is burning downright!
In short: the double-CD with the essence of the double-DVD is a wonderful measure; especially for a good cause, because the proceeds from the festival and recorded music sales go to the on the Crossroads Foundation funded Clapton rehab in Antigua. Why there was a CD release only not at the first, second and third times? Could the late filing? I'll call Eric times and tell him ...
