Elly Roberts reviews
Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J
Distributed by
Warner Music Vision
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 7599-38631-2
- Running time: 97 minutes
- Year: 1999-2004
- Pressing: 2004
- Region(s): 2-6, PAL
- Sound: Dolby 5.1 Surround, DTS Surround
- Languages: English
- Widescreen: 16:9
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £19.99
- Rating: 10/10 (Music); 6/10 (DVD); 10/10 (CD)
- Extras:
Multiple viewing angles, 2 tracks (Little Queen Of Spades, Traveling Riverside
Blues), Behind the Scenes Footage
‘Slow-hand’ continues his obsession with legendary Bluesman Robert Johnson.
It’s not a case of Love in Vain for old EC,as he seems to be getting plenty
of commercial mileage from RJ’s songbook. Clapton does the obligatory subliminal
threads explaining his discovery of the blues via rock’n’rollers Little Richard,
Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly to the rootsier Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy, Son
House and Charlie Patten. Johnson turns out to be his favourite.
He’s not exactly the first guitar god to do so: The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin
and other luminaries have tilted their hats in Johnson’s direction. As well as
being a replicator, Clapton has been an innovator. His 1992 Unplugged CD
and DVD spawned a new generation of artists to go down the same route. It also
inspired established acts such as Nivarna et al, to display their acoustic
talents.
This DVD gets right to the nitty gritty of his pre-concert rehearsals in Hook
End Manor UK and Irving Texas USA, as he brings his band members together for
routine practice and formatting. Traditionally, Clapton rarely speaks during
concerts, and he never puts on a ‘show’. Music always does the talking: this
fly-on-the-wall experience is no exception.
These sessions were the preamble for his 2004 world tour, which I had the
thrill of seeing at Manchester’s ENA last May. Sessions 1 & 2 is like watching
the dawn chorus, as the collective thrash out their setlist in the relative
privacy of the studios. The only intrusion is the film crew, but the overall
feeling is intimacy, getting close up to the formidable ensemble.
Working with the greatest living guitarist brings it’s compenstations, but it’s
a no nonsense approach with little relief for his band-it’s get on, get it done
and get off.
The four sessions begin in England as a band, finishing off in a hotel room in
LA as a solo. Session 3, acoustic, with counterpart Doyle Bramhall is the best:
it’s Johnson’s songs they way they were meant to be.
Musical highlights: Session 1 - They’re Red Hot (with band), Session 2
- If I Had Possession etc (with band), Session 3 - Love In Vain
(duo with Bramhall), Session 4 - Ramblin’ On My Mind (solo)
You can also enjoy the audio experience on the 11 track CD.
The full list of DVD tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
