CIMPLE – A Curious Introvert's Musings & Photos about Life and Enjoyment

Last week I added two great CDs by Eric Clapton and Joe Bonamassa to my music collection.  Forever Man by Eric Clapton was released on April 28 and is a 3-CD collection of studio, live and blues recordings that “represents some of the finest recordings from Clapton’s ongoing solo sessions.  Both in the studio and live, they capture everything that has made this man an icon for the ages, for every generation” (Malcolm Dome).  Eric Clapton celebrated his 70th birthday on March 30th, but it was last Friday that the guitar god celebrated with a 70th Birthday concert at Madison Square Garden.  I have had the opportunity to see Clapton in concert twice, but I would have loved to see the Birthday concert with special guests Derek Trucks, John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall II and Jimmie Vaughn.  Another Clapton concert regret is never seeing one of his Crossroads concerts live.  If you happen to enjoy DVD concert performances, the collection of Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festivals are outstanding.  After performing his second concert at Madison Square Garden, Clapton will be heading to London and performing seven shows at the Royal Albert Hall.  I am hoping that either the Madison Square Garden or Royal Albert Hall concerts will be released on DVD, since in an interview last year Clapton sounded like his touring days may be coming to an end.

Another great series of DVD concert performances is the Joe Bonamassa Tour de Force:  Live in London collection that includes four concerts performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, The Borderline and Hammersmith Apollo.  Joe Bonamassa’s latest release is Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks which was released on March 23rd, and while I have previously only purchased his DVD concert performances, this time I thought owning the CD was also necessary.  In the DVD booklet, Joe Bonamassa writes about great performances at Red Rocks, including The Beatles, BB King, Ray Charles and U2.  After watching the DVD, I added another life concert regret of never seeing a performance at Red Rocks.

While I own the majority of Eric Clapton’s CDs, this was the first Bonamassa CD that I have added to my collection and definitely not the last.  I preferred Bonamassa’s cover of Muddy Waters over Howlin’ Wolf, but overall thought the CD was exceptional.  I first heard the Blues live at the Soup Kitchen Saloon in Detroit in the 1980s and while I have been a Clapton fan for decades, I have to admit I have not followed the new guitar and blues players over the last couple decades.  It appears it may be time to go out and listen to more of the blues and pay attention to a younger generation of blues and guitar players like Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., John Mayer and Derek Trucks.