Eric Clapton & Guests - Crossroads Revisited (Selections From The Crossroads Guitar Festivals) (2016)

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The miracles of “God”

Without any exaggeration, this 3-CD, 40-track compilation covering the 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013 editions of the Crossroads Guitar Festival (CGF) is an absolute kick! Not one track that you'd want to drop down. Not even one single bit of a track ! And the content will appeal as much to pop/rock fans as to blues lovers.

The master of the festival, Eric Clapton himself, ex-Yardbirds, ex-John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, ex-Cream, ex-Blind Faith, ex-Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, ex-Derek and the Dominos, nicknamed “Slow Hand” and even “God”, shows the different faces of his musical personality : pop-rocker on songs like “Layla”, “Isn't It A Pity”, “Presence Of The Lord”, “Cocaine” or “I Shot The Sheriff”; bluesman with “Have You Ever Loved A Woman”, “Crossroads” and numerous tracks on which he plays with his guests. Actually most of the time he blends both genres in his inimitable signature style.

There's enough here to please almost anybody, from sound experimenter Jeff Beck to country boys like Willie Nelson and Vince Gill, to Latin-flavored rockers like Carlos Santana and Los Lobos and most of all through a gathering of thrilling veterans like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin, Steve Winwood, ZZ Top, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh, Albert Lee, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Keb' Mo', Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Sonny Landreth, and of course Eric Clapton. And among the younger generations, Doyle Bramhall II, John Mayer, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark Jr…

BB King : "Forever and a day..."

It would be too long and fastidious to detail each of the 40 tracks. I'll just point out some moments that I think are particularly impressive and outstanding.

On top of the list, B.B. King singing with his imposing voice “Paying The Cost To Be The Boss” with The Robert Cray Band, Jimmie Vaughan & Hubert Sumlin. It was in 2007 and though this isn't on the CD, B.B. King, 81 at the time, saluted Eric Clapton with these words : “I’ll probably embarrass him, but I just need to do it, Eric. I’ve been around the world, I’ve met kings and queens, but I’ve never met a better man, a more gracious man than my friend Eric Clapton. May I live forever, but may you live forever and a day because I don’t want to be here if you’re not around.” (https://cdn.veojam.com/video/360/1/1114_1b2ea03388.mp4)

Steve Winwood (left) & E.C.

Among the Clapton tracks, the most moving is probably his version of the beautiful “Isn't It A Pity” of his late close friend George Harrison (“This is for someone I wish was here”, he announced on stage, but this has been cut on the CD).

More rejoicing are his reunion with ex-Blind Faith band mate Steve Winwood on “Presence Of The Lord” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy”, and his impeccably laid-back duet with J.J. Cale, “After Midnight”.

Jeff Beck & Tal Wilkenfeld

Fusion guitar hero Jeff Beck, who was invited in 2007, 2010 & 2013, shows his amazing skills to draw volcanic sounds from his guitar on two memorable tracks : “Cause We've Ended As Lovers” and “Big Block” (2007) with Australian bass wizard Tal Wilkenfeld, an incredible young woman of just 21 at the time, still looking like a teenager behind a bass that seems too big for her ! From the 2010 festival, and in the same fusion vein, Beck delivers “Hammerhead” with another young lady on bass, Rhonda Smith (see videos of both performances below).

Gary Clark Jr.

The promising young Texas guitarist and singer Gary Clark Jr. has already been invited to the festival twice and should appear again at the 2023 edition. This Austin native honed his skills very young at the mythical club Antone's where he met, among others, Stevie Ray and his brother Jimmie Vaughan (also featured on this compilation) who helped him to launch his career.

He is featured on no less than three numbers : a pounding Hendrixian take on “Bright Lights” and most of all the dirty boogie “Don't Owe You A Thing”, both from the 2010 edition when he was just 26. This same year, he was also backing Sheryl Crow on “Our Love Is Fading” with Eric Clapton and Doyle Bramhall II.

But his most impressive performance and one of the most intense moments of the compilation was at the CGF 2013 : a hot melancholic guitar work on his quite melodic soul original “Please Come Home”.

James Taylor with Joe Walsh

Derek Trucks is a case. This appealing guitarist seems insatiable : not only has he been featured on each editions of the CGF since 2004, playing with his Derek Trucks Band and Susan Tedeschi but also each time backing a great number of artists as it appears in the videos below.

As far as me, myself and I are concerned, this set offered me some exciting surprises from artists whose name I knew better than their music : James Taylor, Vince Gill and Los Lobos.

James Taylor's amazing delivery of “Steamroller”, with his unmistakable voice and the scorching guitar of Joe Walsh, is one of the most beautiful tracks of the compilation.

Vince Gill (right) & Albert Lee

Featured five times,  country & rock'n'roll musician Vince Gill is  delivering incredible energy and showmanship, and stirring guitar licks as a wild leading act on the riveting “What The Cowgirls Do” with Jerry Douglas, on the stirring version of “Lay Down Sally” with a blazing solo competition between himself, Sheryl Crow, Keb' Mo', Albert Lee, James Burton and Earl Klugh, and on the captivating duel with Albert Lee and Keith Urban on the Rolling Stones' “Tumbling Dice”. Or backing Sheryl Crow with Eric Clapton & Albert Lee on the rocking country “Tulsa Time”, and next to Willie Nelson with Sheryl Crow & Albert Lee on “On The Road Again”. Can't find Gill ? Look for Albert Lee ! 😉

Los Lobos with E.C.

I've always loved Latin stuff à la Santana, but curiously I didn't know Los Lobos except for their name. Their mix of Latin-Mexican sounds and rock on “Mas Y Mas”, with “exotic” guitar from David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, recorded during the 2007 festival, has more than convinced me to start searching for some of their albums. This is comforted by David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas work next to Warren Haynes and Chris Stainton behind the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band on “Space Captain” (2010).

Buddy Guy

I could also mention the fine performances of the great Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin, of Robert Cray and Jimmie Vaughan, of Sonny Landreth and Booker T. Jones, of the younger Doyle Bramhall II, John Mayer and Jonny Lang, but is it really necessary ? Their names are tokens of talent.

Robert Cray & Derek Trucks

I could also have nostalgic thoughts for those who were not selected in the compilation : Bob Dylan, Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Randolph, Duke Robillard, John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Alison Krauss, Robbie Robertson, Tab Benoit, Taj Mahal, Joe Bonamassa, Keith Richards… But that would have required at least a fourth CD.

So let's not look down on what we have here : a magnificent gathering of top level artists in top form. Only “God” could achieve such a wonder ! ■

The Crossroads Centre, Antigua

The CGF
► The Crossroads Centre, Antigua  was founded by Clapton in 1998 “to provide treatment and education to chemically and alcohol dependent persons through a 12-step program and a change in lifestyle”, to make it short. More info here : https://crossroadsantigua.org/

Dylan & Clapton in 1999

► The first edition of the festival in 1999 was barely titled “Eric Clapton & Friends, Benefit Concert for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua”. If was re-baptized “Crossroads Guitar Festival” from the second edition in 2004, a denomination indicating clearly that it was devoted to guitarists (sometimes extended to banjo or mandolin players).

Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes

► For info on the first six editions :
→ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_Guitar_Festival
→ In French but illustrated with lots of photos : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_Guitar_Festival

► The CGF, delayed because of the pandemic, comes back for its 7th edition next September for two nights, this time in Los Angeles, with a lineup of young and old talent. Among the “new” artists who are planned to be featured for the first time are H.E.R. (aka Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson), Stephen Stills, The War on Drugs, James Bullard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Roger McGuinn, Jakob Dylan, the Del McCoury Band, Eric Gales, Ben Haggard, Ariel Posen, Sierra Hull, Pedro Martins, Daniel Santiago, Bradley Walker or Molly Tuttle. And of course, Clapton will perform on both nights.
→ Watch Eric Clapton's announcement :  https://youtu.be/EG2WEfhtH9k
→ Read the complete planned lineup at : https://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/

Grand finale, NYC, 1999

Audio
► Eric Clapton & Friends, Benefit Concert for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua, 1999 : https://youtu.be/8Xow_8c5tFQ
► CGF 2004, radio report : https://youtu.be/hX-wMspBbtU
► CGF  2013 :
→ CD 1 : https://youtu.be/9Tj_XDPbmh
→ CD 2 : https://youtu.be/2p4RzkO4TzU

Clapton with JJ Cale

Videos
■ Eric Clapton & Friends : Benefit Concert for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, Madison Square Garden, NYC, 1999 : https://youtu.be/xzi2BWzoRAw
► Eric Clapton, with Bob Dylan (at 37:00), CGF 1999 : https://youtu.be/0ndyHKXAhLo

Jimmie Vaughan

■ CGF 2004, Dallas :
► Playlist 1 : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw1q6AgPvRhy6rSdomL4harRS8Mn0pJwO
► Playlist 2 : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWR7cftUj6SnxSbcKHSJB8GrbToppcVC

 

Keb' Mo'

■ CGF 2007, Chicago :
► Eric Clapton with Derek Trucks & Doyle Bramhall II : https://youtu.be/0DSMFQjrU0g
► Eric Clapton with Steve Winwood, Derek Trucks & Doyle Bramhall II : https://youtu.be/DWjTYwRQTSU
► Eric Clapton with Robbie Robertson (at 20:00), Derek Trucks & Doyle Bramhall II : https://youtu.be/ErBOU46vo4E

Sonny Landreth

► Jeff Beck with Tal Wilkenfeld, Jason Rebello & Vinnie Colaiuta : https://youtu.be/9C_zeMYHgtU [or] https://youtu.be/8wWbWzAwZCA
► John McLaughlin : https://youtu.be/2B4uX-cmqxM

Hubert Sumlin

■ CGF 2010, Chicago :
→ #1 : https://youtu.be/w59rUSxN5f4
→ #2 : https://youtu.be/2jEeX-yzqoM
→ Best moments : https://youtu.be/gc3CGmIS_s0
► Eric Clapton with Steve Winwood : https://youtu.be/jkWpkXXZNMY
► Jeff Beck, “Hammerhead” : https://youtu.be/jWoNl8DLDjM

ZZ Top

■ CGF 2013, NYC : https://youtu.be/pUxSUrHt82U
► Best excerpts with Steve Cropper, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, B.B. King... : https://youtu.be/HMw44rtTM1s
► Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Doyle Bramhall II, Derek Trucks... :
→ https://youtu.be/ZfZwtjx7dpk
→ https://youtu.be/pUxSUrHt82U

Doyle Bramhall II & Sheryl Crow

■ CGF 2019, Dallas (selections) :
► https://youtu.be/J_UwwDgEhBs
►https://youtu.be/TfrGKW7eKhE
► Playlist 1 : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWR7cftUj6RmO1ETwv3KRIJqjeyZbmMa
► Playlist 2, #1 to 4 : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmXxqSJJq-yUClq5MKkWAt3rBngtECtsW