There’s not exactly a dearth of recordings of Eric Clapton performing in concert, but this one from a gig at Royal Albert Hall finds the legendary blues rocker in an inspired mood. Maybe because he’s surrounded himself with jazz artists to keep things swinging. A rhythm team of Nathan East/b, Steve gad/dr and Paul Carrack/key find the right grooves and never let go. Carrack lets his fingers do the walking on piano during lovely “You Are So Beautiful” and sounds like he’s at the local honky tonk on “Pretending” whereas East’s bass is palpable on a flexible “Can’t Find My Way Home.”
But obviously, you’re buying this 2 cd/dvd set for Clapton, and he doesn’t disappoint. With Gadd’s rivulet of rhythm, he boogies on “Key to THe Highway” and goes down a country road on “Tell The Trutyh.” His voice has aged fantastically, sounding rough and ready on “Hoochie Coochie Man” while his electric axe resonates throughout.
On acoustic guitar, he picks and grins on “Driftin’ Blues” and gets folksy by the campfire with Carrack on “Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out” while his tasty selection of a bluesy read of “Layla” is simply sublime. He knows how to rock it, shough, as “Cocaine” sounds more formidable than ever before and “Let it Rain” is filled with misty joy. As close to definitive as you’re going to get.
Eagle Vision