Crossroads: Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007 (DVD)

Released almost exactly three years after the first, tremendously successful Crossroads DVD, this double-disc documents the 2007 benefit concert for Clapton's Crossroads Center substance abuse facility. "Guitar" is the operative word here, since all the participants are six-string players. As in the last show, the genres include country (Willie Nelson, Vince Gill), gospel (Robert Randolph), Latin rock (Los Lobos), pop (Sheryl Crow, John Mayer), jazz fusion (John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck) and lots of blues (everyone else). Some performers such as Randolph, Mayer, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, and of course Clapton return from the 2004 lineup. That was a two-day event held in Dallas, TX. This was a one day -- a very long day -- show moved to the home of the blues, a stadium just outside of Chicago, and features a very funny Bill Murray introducing the acts. Based on the sunlight, it seems to be in chronological order, or close to it. Each artist gets one or two tunes cherrypicked from longer sets which keeps the DVD fast paced, even at its four-hour length. Still, it would make sense to release more music on a separate DVD or even CD for those who would like to hear the rest of the material. That is especially the case with Jeff Beck and Robert Randolph, two artists that burn up the stage with abbreviated performances. A highly anticipated reunion with Clapton and his Blind Faith bandmate Steve Winwood results in three songs, "Presence of the Lord," "Can't Find My Way Home," and "Had to Cry Today" from that band's only album. While it sounds fine, there is a noticeable spark and edge missing from the interaction, leaving it somewhat bland and certainly anti-climactic. Derek Trucks burns through Layla's "Anyday," though, and Clapton sounds inspired on "Tell the Truth," another Layla track cranked up with Trucks taking the Duane Allman slide part. Collaborations also bring out the best in some axe slingers, with Vince Gill and Albert Lee's hot-wired "Country Boy," and Jimmie Vaughan fronting the Robert Cray band on a sizzling slow blues "Dirty Work at the Crossroads." A short but sweet 15-minute extra focuses on the smaller side stage with frustratingly brief one-minute excerpts from Tab Benoit, Harvey Mandel, Skunk Baxter, and others' sets. The DTS surround sound is superb, the camera work classy if occasionally too arty, and the top-notch presentation worthy of the high-quality music and artists involved. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide