Like Alexander the Great, Joe Bonamassa endlessly searches for new musical worlds to conquer. This time out, he gives his laser focus to the British Blues Invasion, exemplified by the Mount Rushmore team of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. All three had stints in the Yardbirds, but Bonamassa and his long time working team of Michael Rhodes/b, Reese Wynans/key, Anton Fig/dr and Russ Irwin/g decide to present material from the Big Three before and after their stints with the legendary band.
It’s a good call, as this 2 cd or Blu-Ray set allows Bonamassa and company to stretch out and get a bit more aggressive with the less pop material. Songs from Beck’s famed days with Rod Stewart get things rolling as Joe B sears through the militaristic snap of “Beck’s Bolero/Rice Pudding” while he gives a rip roaring guitar and vocal snarl of “Let Me Love You Baby” and the searing “Plynth (Water Down the Drain)” with Wynan’s humming Hammond.
Clapton is featured with his John Mayall days for the boogying “Little Girl” and well as the days of the power trio Cream on the psychedelic and galactic “Swalbr.” Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin get acidic on “How Many More Times” as Joe B is raspy on both guitar and voice on a sweaty “Tea for One/I Can’t Quit You Baby.” Bonamassa’s own “ Black Winter/Django” fits right into the Blue Eyed Soul mood, fitting as well as his own shark skin suit.
The Blu-Ray includes a Cavern Club rendition of “Taxman” as well as Mick Wall giving a bit of historic perspective of how the British Blues came about and influenced American music. This is obviously a must for blues rock fans, and an invitation to catch this band on tour. RSVP!