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RCB "LIVE"
Robert Cray and Eric Clapton have been crossing paths for a long time, going
back to when both guitarists were called to be part of the all-star tribute
concert Keith Richards staged for Chuck Berry in 1986.
Back then, Cray was the young upstart on the national blues scene, pouring a
decade of road work into such notable records as "Bad Influence" and
"Showdown!"
Clapton went on to record a version of Cray's song "Bad Influence" for the 1987
album "August." Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan led a blues-guitar renaissance
through the 1980s, but Clapton, whose guitar-god credentials date back to the
early '60s, did not let the decade pass before releasing his stately
"Journeyman" album. Acknowledging the presence of a new generation of guitar
slingers, Clapton had Cray join him on "Journeyman, " and the two teamed on the
song "Old Love," which they co-wrote. Cray also appears on Clapton's concert
album "24 Nights." Through the years, Cray and Clapton have shared the stage
in various capacities.
Cray and Clapton are together again this year, with the Robert Cray Band
supporting Clapton along a lengthy tour that heads to Boston on Tuesday. Cray
opens the show at 7:30 p.m. at the TD Banknorth Garden. Clapton's current band
features two more guitar hotshots, Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks. And on
many nights, Cray joins the guitar summit for a portion of the show.
That can be a whole lotta strings on one stage.
But Cray said the teaming can work like a charm because all the players involved
follow a basic principle.
"The song is the most important thing," Cray said.
Sure, when he was younger, Cray started out wanting to dazzle, but noted that
listening to the blues taught him the essence of nuance.
"As teenagers we'd make comparisons, who was the best. We'd listen to B.B.
King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Freddie King, and argue who was best. B.B.'s name
almost always topped the list. He could take one note and play it just right and
put everyone to shame. He could make that note do whatever he wanted. We
used to say he put the stinger on everybody," Cray recalled.
Since forming the Robert Cray Band in 1974, the group's namesake has applied
his fair share of stingers over the years. And a nice summary of that work was
recently compiled via the concert album, "Live From Across the Pond."
"For the longest time, people have been asking for a live album," Cray said.
"They tell me, `Your records are what they are, but the band sounds better live.'
It's just a more honest approach to what we do, and live you hear and see the
dynamics."
Cray and his current band of bass player Karl Sevareid, drummer Kevin Hayes,
and keyboard player Jim Pugh offer a set that spans Cray's earliest hits to his
most current tunes. The two-disc set reiterates Cray's core talents, such as
the way he weaves sweet soul tones into his contemporary blues, and the live
recording makes for a nice showcase of Cray's tasteful guitar style and
songwriting skills. Of the blues guitar mavens that dominated the '80s, Cray was
silk to Stevie Ray Vaughan's sandpaper, and "Live From Across the Pond" shows
the consistency of Cray's fabric.
After forming his band in Eugene, Ore., and working along the West Coast
(including an appearance in the movie "Animal House" as the bass player in the
group Otis Day and The Knights), Cray released his debut album "Who's Been
Talkin' " iRead full review...
Cray lover's....You will love this...PERIOD !
live cray.....what a great addition to your collection....buy it you will be very very happy with it....Its my go to sleep music...I can never get through both cd's....If you love Cray's music like I do....BUY IT !Read full review...
Bon blues.
Si vous aimez des artistes comme Eric Clapton ou B.B King vous aimerez sans doute Robert Cray. Une belle voix blues et funky et des excellents solo sont à l'honneur dans ce Cd double.