Review: Various Artists ‘Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023’
By Hal Horowitz
“Phew” is the word many will utter when perusing the contents of this extensive set, with over six hours of music, chronicling two days of Eric Clapton’s ongoing guitar festival.
The eighth edition of the event, first started in 1999 and repeated every three-five years since, occurred in L.A. on September 23 & 24th of the titular year. And while many of the names are familiar from previous incarnations (Billy Gibbons, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Jimmie Vaughan, Santana and Gary Clark Jr. are just a few of the returning acts), a handful of new additions (Eric Gales, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, H.E.R., Samantha Fish) appear for the first time this year. Bill Murray once again handles the Master of Ceremonies position.
Those who spring for the full 2 Blu-ray/4 CD edition (there are cheaper configurations too) with 54 audio tracks and 44 on video, will have well over nine hours of music to absorb (five on the video, another four on CD), most of it pretty great. While it’s no replacement for being there and hearing full sets, it effectively chronicles highlights from the event for those who couldn’t see it live or streaming on Pay-per-view.
There’s plenty of remarkable music here, spanning country, world, bluegrass, singer/songwriter, soul, rock, and of course the blues that Clapton has been promoting since his earliest days with The Yardbirds and John Mayall.
The video discs are divided by days and, based on that, a handful of performers (Clark Jr, McLaughlin, Bonamassa, Taj Mahal and others) played both shows. Inexplicably, the audio CDs do not present the songs in the same order as the visual component.
The great Louisiana slide guitarist Sonny Landreth gets things off to a rollicking start on the first DVD. But the vibe quickly shifts to more rustic, acoustic sounds with mandolinist Sierra Hull and Del McCoury’s band running through classy country and bluegrass.
Eric Gales’ explosive energy (gotta love two drummers and his flashy gold lamé shirt/matching sneakers ensemble), raises the temperature considerably on eight sizzling minutes of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning.” Samantha Fish and Kingfish then enter for an exhilarating “Going Down,” a nod of appreciation to Freddie King and Jeff Beck who both scored with the song.
Joe Bonamassa rocks with his full band on nine minutes of Albert King’s soul/blues standard “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” trading licks with Gales, and the great jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. Clapton and Gary Clark Jr. help Jimmie Vaughan on a snapping “Sweet Home Chicago.”
Less impressive is 81 year old Roger McGuinn, whose voice is barely a shadow of what it once was. He is backed by The Wallflowers, gamely resurrecting Byrds hits “Turn, Turn, Turn” and “Eight Miles High.” Clapton and Stephen Stills join The Wallflowers reviving the latter’s Buffalo Springfield-era “Bluebird,” displaying Still’s diminished vocals yet still stunning guitar work. ZZ Top rumble through “Gimme All Your Lovin’” to close day one’s festivities.
Disc two kicks off strong with the always electrifying Robert Randolph’s pedal steel torching “Foxy Lady” with Bonamassa and Gales riding shotgun. We shift to smoother waters for Kurt Rosenwinkel’s easy grooving, technically skilled jazz. Marcus King leads his larger, horn-assisted ensemble through some energetic Americana and H.E.R. brings energized soul and a crackling cover of Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
Gary Clark Jr. gets a full 16 minutes to deliver two terrific tunes from his 2015 album—“Our Love” and “The Healing”– with a full band (he appears for a solo acoustic interlude on day one). They show why he’s one of Clapton’s favorites, having appeared on multiple Crossroad bills. Contrast that with LA locals Los Lobos who squeeze in just over three minutes running through a rocking but abbreviated “Don’t Worry Baby.”
Carlos Santana re-connects with old buddy John McLaughlin for a soaring, emotional version of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” with both taking searing solos. Even at seven minutes, it seems too short (the original runs a half hour).
Clapton closes with a trio of tunes led by an emotional reading of The Band’s “It Makes No Difference,” a tribute to the late Robbie Robertson, his longtime friend who had passed a month earlier. A sprightly “I Shot the Sheriff” folds into the closing “Crossroads.” On it, surprise guest Stevie Wonder plays an unusual short vertical keyboard with 16 strings called a Harpejji, which sounds like a guitar. It’s a vibrant performance especially considering how many decades Clapton has been playing the song.
Acoustic pieces occasionally appear to break up the full band ones, bringing balance and a lighter touch to the extended gig. One of the finest is by 72 year old Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla who picks a shrunken 12-string supported by violin and string bass. It’s a stunning sound, well worth investigating further.
The Blu-ray’s Dolby Atmos sound mix is expertly crafted, as is the camera work, although some of the split screens which appear sporadically are extraneous and distracting. The CDs include about 10 additional songs, some of which, like Samantha Fish burning through “I Put a Spell On You,” are so powerful you wonder why they got cut from the video. The enclosed booklet with a smattering of photos is a missed opportunity though. It frustratingly ignores names of the supporting players (except for Clapton’s band) and includes no notes on the day’s activities.
Regardless, this is a magnificent, often jaw-dropping, visual and audio account of 2023s guitar showcase event of the year. Better still, it raises awareness of and supports a good cause; Clapton’s Crossroads Centre for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction.
Pre-order/Pre-save ‘Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2023′ Here
Eric Clapton “Makes No Difference”
Leave A Comment