Eric Clapton and his music

ERIC CLAPTON REVIEW: 'Slowhand' slow down? Not hardly
Clapton's skill and integrity on display in Charlottesville show

Eric Clapton is one of the many in the I-said-I-retired-from-touring-but-I'm-back club -- and no one is arguing with that decision.

A month into this latest leg of a world tour that launched in May, Clapton, at 61, is as vital a musician and performer as his two six-string sidekicks, the immensely gifted Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II.

Most of last night's sold-out concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville was business as usual for Clapton. From looking like a banker on casual Friday in a pink button-down shirt, specs and baggy pants, to his workmanlike approach on the opening double punch of "Pretending" and "I Shot the Sheriff," Clapton never stopped to talk, showboat or do anything but wail on his guitar for two hours.

Even this mostly middle-aged crowd remained on its feet for the majority of the show, swaying along to the reggae thump of "Sheriff" and dancing appreciatively when Clapton retrieved the Derek & The Dominos gems "Anyday" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out."
Anyone questioning Clapton's ability can turn in their music-appreciation badge immediately and move on, but even a legend requires some assistance. He shared the heavy lifting all night with comparative youngsters Trucks and Bramhall, whose playing proved they have every right to share the stage with guitar roy alty. Trucks is a phenomenal slide player and Bramhall's melodicstyle and equally strong backup vocals provided the perfect complement to Clapton's clean, but never pristine, blues.

Watching Clapton step back from the microphone into a solo is still a thing of majesty. That familiar pose -- eyes closed, mouth stretched tight, stepping in place and often reaching on his tip toes to squeeze out a note -- appeared often. He grinned through the rifling riffing of "Motherless Children," given an extra thrill by Steve Jordan's locomotive drumming, and traded tasteful trills with Bramhall, Trucks and opener Robert Cray on a 15-minute jam of "Old Love."

Clapton has never been about flash, but, unlike some of his peers, that lack of pretension doesn't translate into boredom for the audience. His airy stage offered plenty of room for his six-piece band and two backup singers to roam -- though all seemed content in their area -- while a wall of crinkled curtains reflected the stylish lights that punctuated each song.

It took about 45 minutes for Clapton to utter his first sentence, "Nice to be here," spoken with a smile. That preceded a four-song sit down set -- sort of a Clapton unplugged but without the gloppy adult contemporary hits -- that featured the sweetly melodic "Back Home" and "I Am Yours," with Bramhall sharing vocals.

For most of the show, Clapton never seemed to strain to hit a note, usually singing from the back of his throat with guttural heft. Wisely, though, he rearranged some keys in the achingly romantic "Wonderful Tonight," before tearing into "Layla" with a passion that didn't indicate it was probably his 8,354th time singing it. The song's piano, one of the most famous codas in rock history -- if not the most -- kept the crowd of just under 15,000 swaying in nostalgic bliss.

It's true that Clapton doesn't need to be out there, but for whatever reason, he's chosen to endure a grueling schedule -- no matter how comfy the amenities -- for another several weeks. He plays as if it's about more than another paycheck, but even if it is, he makes you believe in his soul.

http://www.rhapsody.com/

Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale will release their new album, "The Road To Escondido" on 7 November. Starting 16 October, fans will be able to listen to it online at http://www.rhapsody.com/ It will be available on Rhapsody until the release date.

The CD is a true collaborative effort as "The Road To Escondido" was jointly produced and recorded by Eric and J.J, with each playing and singing on the tracks. J.J. wrote 11 of the songs, E.C. wrote Three Little Girls, John Mayer wrote Hard To Thrill and the duo cover the blues classic Sporting Life Blues. J.J. Cale's touring band accompanies them on the album. Guest musicians include Taj Mahal, John Mayer, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, Albert Lee, Nathan East, Willie Weeks, Steve Jordan and the late Billy Preston on keyboards.

Members of Eric's official fan club, EC Access, received an exclusive members-only online premiere from 13 October (1PM PST) to 16 October via EC Access Radio.

The first single, "Ride The River" is already available for purchase on iTunes.

On 14 October, Eric Clapton and his band continued their trek around the world with a concert at Duluth's Gwinnet Civic Center. One fan said, "Clapton was in top form. I thought he really stood out on Little Queen of Spades and he and Robert Cray on Old Love. This was a fantastic show!".

It was the 56th show of the tour and the 15th in the US since the tour launched there on 16 September. There were no changes in the set list. Eric and his two guitarists - Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks - tore up their fretboards on numbers like the 1974 smash hit "I Shot The Sheriff, "Got To Get Better In A Little While," "Everybody Oughta Make A Change," and "Layla." The shows also featured a sit-down acoustic set featuring "Back Home", the title track of Eric's most recent CD, and the ever-popular "Wonderful Tonight"

To commemorate the Madison Square Garden concerts (28 / 29 / 30 September 2006), Eric Clapton commissioned a limited edition series of posters. There is one poster for each of the three nights at MSG.

Created by artists Chuck Sperry and Ron Donovan of Firehouse Kustom Rockart Co., they depict guitars famously associated with Eric Clapton. The posters have been hand-signed by the artists and have already created quite a buzz in the rockart community.

The posters stand alone as a great single piece of art or can be hung together to form a wonderful frieze of guitars. Book-ended by Martin acoustic guitars, the other guitars depicted are the Cream-era Gibson SG "The Fool" and Eric's famous Fender Stratocaster "Blackie". Each of the posters in the edition consist of more than 12 colors and were hand printed by Firehouse. The posters sell individually for $90.00 (US) and $250.00 (US) for the set of three.

The posters were initially sold at Madison Square Garden. Currently, the only place these posters can be purchased is at the merchandising stands on the American Tour. This leg of the US Tour ends on 23 October in Miami.

RALEIGH - The genius of electric blues godfather Eric Clapton was never solely a matter of playing the songs of Robert Johnson or Willie Dixon long and loud.
Clapton’s real great trick was taking his explosive, transcendent soloing and framing it with tough, tight pop-rock hooks that were sharper and more memorable than those proferred by Paul Butterfield, the Allman Brothers Band and other like-minded white bluesmen.

Four decades later, Clapton still loves to lift off for minutes on end with dizzying, masterful improvisations. However, it’s doubtful that the RBC Center would have been packed to capacity and the audience firmly engaged for the show’s duration were it not for Slowhand’s equally legendary mastery of pop songcraft.

“Tight” is not typically used to describe concerts where the majority of songs run past the seven-minute mark, but aside from a bit of meandering on the more purist-based blues numbers, Clapton and his accompanists delivered a performance that was punchy and packed with thrills.

The 1989 hit “Pretending” propelled the band right out of the gate, with the backup singers sounding great and guitarists Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II each taking effectively compact solos, only to give way to Clapton himself delivering a particularly fiery torrent near the song’s end.

“I Shot the Sheriff” found its peak only when Clapton soloed over the top of his singers, while “Got to Get Better in a Little While” was funky enough to find room for a rock-solid bass solo from Willie Weeks.

Clapton’s recording output has always been spotty, especially in recent years, so he was wise to lean on the handful of his albums that are unqualified classics, particularly “Journeyman,” “461 Ocean Boulevard” and of course “Layla,” the deathless Derek and the Dominos masterpiece.

Even the rock-radio fossil “After Midnight” held unexpected pleasure in its sped-up, almost reckless arrangement, but the real joy came in hearing pointed, purposeful versions of less overplayed landmarks such as “Anyday,” “I Am Yours” and “Running on Faith” (which had a gospel undertow that supremely justified its title).

The only concession to this century was an acoustic run-through of “Back Home,” the title track to Clapton’s latest album and one of his best vocal turns of the evening, no big surprise when you consider he has always been better at wistful murmurings (“Wonderful Tonight” still sounds sublime) than pinched, growly bluesman hollers.

In a handful of instances, Clapton and the band got a little too lost in the Slowhand mystique and started to wander, most noticeably on “Old Love.” Still, for the most part, Clapton and company traded introspection and soul-searching for crowd-pleasing flash and a reassuring groundwork of rhythm, and that’s hardly a complaint.

Clapton’s at his best when his not being pious towards the blues, and even though “Little Queen of Spades” was indeed the work of Mr. Johnson, the trio of guitarists seemed most concerned with seeing who could unleash the most jaw-dropping solo, with Trucks unofficially prevailing.

Of course, as exciting and technically marvelous as those solos were, it’s hard to say whether any single moment of their unfolding was as powerful as the famous riff to “Motherless Children.” It’s iconic by now and overexposed, but it’s still nice to be reminded from time to time that Eric Clapton isn’t a legend only for his endless takes on “Crossroads.”

Guitar legend Eric Clapton has teamed up with Fender Guitars to assist the Louisville, Kentucky affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Funds raised will go to breast cancer research. Eric was touched by an idea that was inspired by a dinner meeting with Karen Dickson, wife of his long-time guitar technician (Lee Dickson), and mutual friends of a breast cancer patient in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Fender Guitar Custom Shop provided Eric and Lee with a brand-new Eric Clapton "Blackie" Signature Stratocaster in a hard shell case. Eric Clapton then autographed the guitar on the scratch plate and dated it 2006. A letter of authenticity, from Lee Dickson is also included.

Lee Dickson has worked with Eric Clapton for more than 25 years and is solely responsible for maintaining all of the artist's guitars. He works closely with Eric on tour and in the studio ... basically anywhere and everywhere Eric needs his guitars! When Eric isn't on the road, Lee keeps the guitars in tip-top condition and has them at the ready in case they are needed by Eric for a session or last-minute appearance. Lee was instrumental in working with Fender Guitars' Custom Shop on Eric's behalf in the late 1980s to help develop their exclusive line of Eric Clapton Signature Stratocasters. It is one of these guitars that is being auctioned off by the Louisville Affiliate.

The guitar being auctioned off on eBay by the Louisville Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a brand-new black Stratocaster of the Eric Clapton Blackie Signature Stratocaster model line by Fender Guitars' Custom Shop. The model is named and designed after Eric's most famous Stratocaster, Blackie. (The original Blackie was sold by Eric at auction in 2004 raising $959,500 for charity). One hundred percent of the proceeds raised in this exciting eBay Auction will go to the Komen Foundation, which funds much-needed research into the devastating disease. The eBay auction ends 24 October at 10:00 PDT.

Eric Clapton is currently performing in the United States as part of his 2006 / 2007 World Tour. He initially rose to prominence in the 1960s with the Yardbirds followed by stints in legendary bands John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos. He established himself as a solo artist ofworld-wide renown in the 1970s. With numerous albums to his credit, he is known for perrenial radio favorites like Layla, I Shot The Sheriff, Wonderful Tonight, Tears In Heaven, and Change The World amongst others. Eric has won 18 Grammy Awards and is the only triple inductee into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. A new cd entitled The Road To Escondido and recorded with J.J. Cale, will be released on 7 November.

Legend rocker Eric Clapton will perform a concert in Bangkok on January 16 at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.

On 18 October, EC and his band performed a 17 song set at the Birmingham-Jefferson Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. The set list was the same as the last few shows except for the acoustic set. Gone were "Back Home" and "I am Yours". They were replaced with "Key to the Highway" and "San Francisco Bay Blues". Clapton even played the kazoo! Those in attendance were treated to outstanding performances of "I Shot The Sheriff," "Got To Get Better In A Little While" and the guitar tour-de-force, "Little Queen of Spades." As has become usual, Robert Cray joined Eric for "Old Love" and the encore, "Crossroads". Cray wrote "Old Love" with Eric for the 1989 album, "Journeyman." The band now moves on to Florida for the final dates of this leg of the US Tour.

For those who have not been checking in regularly, this tour features an expanded band with some familiar faces and some new personnel. Bandmembers are Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Derek Trucks (guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Jordan (drums), Michelle John (backing vocals), and Sharon White (backing vocals).

Setlist 18 October 2006 - Birmingham, AL
Pretending
I Shot The Sheriff
Got To Get Better In A Little While
Old Love (with Robert Cray)
Anyday
Motherless Children

sit down set
Key To The Highway
San Francisco Bay Blues
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Running On Faith

After Midnight
Little Queen Of Spades
Further On Up The Road
Wonderful Tonight
Layla
Cocaine

Encore
Crossroads (with Robert Cray)

Review #1

EC and Company put on another incredible show in Birmingham,AL on 10/18. The set list was the same as the last few shows except for the acoustic set. Gone were "Back Home" and "I am Yours". They were replaced with "Key to the Highway" and "San Francisco Bay Blues". Clapton even played the kazoo! (awkwardly, I might add) The whole band got a chuckle out of watching EC play a kazoo with a harmonica holder around his neck while strumming along to "San Francisco Bay Blues". Eric also seemed to think it was pretty funny. The crowd loved it! Clapton waved off the Gibson 335 he has played the last couple of shows during "After Midnight" and "Little Queen of Spades" and sent for the Strat. I saw the show in Georgia a few days ago and I was blown away. The Birmingham show was equally as good. The people with me said it was the best EC show they have ever seen. I've seen him 10 times including a Cream show and I would have to agree. This current EC band is amazing! I can't say enough about Derek Trucks. Clapton seems really relaxed and seriously enjoying what he's doing. He was very "in to" the music. You can tell he still really loves what he does. It's great to see him at this stage of his career delivering above expectations every night all over the world. He is truly one of a kind. If you have an opportunity to see this tour, do yourself a favor, make sure you're there. It's a great night of music.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - October 19, 2006 - Even Eric Clapton has to get into fighting shape when he's going to play guitar for the masses.

Clapton says he forgot you have to be physically fit to tour, and it's a different kind of fitness. He even practiced before his current tour -- three times a day for half an hour, doing exercises. He had to build up those callouses, for one thing. He says the other guitar players in his band don't have them the way he does, and he needs them. He says if he swims or doesn't play for a while, it really hurts when he plays. And if you saw him early on the tour, forgive him if his voice was creaky in places. Clapton says he doesn't sing when he's not working, and he finds he's "way off pitch" for the first couple of shows.

К выпуску делаксового двойника посвящаецца:
малоизвестные американы шуткують.

International Rock Awards 1990. EC & B.Guy & Friends

Escondido media player
http://www.hyfntrak.com/clapton/nobuy/

One of the world's most influential electric guitars, the Fender Stratocaster® guitar once owned by Eric Clapton and affectionately known as BLACKIE ®, will be recreated and made available to the public this November from Fender's renowned Custom Shop.

Guitar Center, Inc. is now the owner of the original guitar after paying $959,500 at a 2004 Christie's auction that benefited the Crossroads Centre, Antigua—a charity founded by Clapton and which remains close to his heart. Guitar Center has commissioned the Fender Custom Shop to reproduce this truly iconic piece of rock 'n' roll history, and it is the exclusive United States distributor of the instrument.

BLACKIE®, a mid-1950s Fender Stratocaster guitar pieced together by Clapton himself from numerous individual guitars, was Clapton's main instrument throughout the 1970s and '80s. Clapton's albums 461 Ocean Boulevard, Slowhand, No Reason To Cry, and Just One Night, among others, were all recorded with BLACKIE ®. And in addition to memorable solo tours, Clapton and BLACKIE® shared the stage with the likes of Pete Townshend, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and The Band.