‘Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play The Blues’ Review: A Different Type of Clapton

Sometimes it’s tough to get excited about new musical releases from Eric Clapton. After all, there are so many of them and where the blues are concerned, sometimes one has to wonder if there is any territory left for the legendary guitarist to cover. What makes his live concert with jazz trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis exciting, however, is that it allows Clapton to slink into the background and take his interpretation of blues music to a new and different place. The two legendary musicians weave together a variety of genres and produce a satisfying musical experience, one that is worth owning for any fan of either musician.

“,” a 2-disc CD/DVD release from Reprise Records of the duo’s concert at Lincoln Center from April of 2011, allows you to hear and see these two greats relaxed, having fun and producing quality music. The two seamlessly blend their two related musical styles of jazz and blues, all the while incorporating a variety of little nuances from each genre. The pair decided to intertwine the sounds of New Orleans Jazz with the feel of jump blues bands (especially popular in the 1940s and seen as a precursor to rock ‘n’ roll). As Marsalis writes in the release’s liner notes, it gave them “the latitude to play different grooves from the Delta to the Caribbean.”

That latitude is evident right from the get go, as the pair and their backing band start things off with a true jazz classic, the Dixieland-styled “Ice Cream.” While it is well-executed, this particular song is a little dull as an opener. Things pick up with “Forty-Four” and “Joe Turner’s Blues,” however. These songs are engrossing, and highlight not just Clapton and Marsalis, but give the whole band an opportunity to shine.

Any Clapton fan has heard countless versions of his definitive tune, “Layla,” but the version performed during this concert (a track that bassist Carlos Henriquez insisted they perform) is a little bit different. The trumpet solo offered by Marsalis is simply beautiful and is a nice change of pace from the piano solo that usually concludes the song as heard in the original studio version done by one of Clapton’s former bands, Derek and the Dominos.

Blues singer-songwriter Taj Mahal is featured on a handful of tracks and his presence helps turn “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” into one of the concert’s highlights. Mahal and Marsalis work effortlessly off of one another, with Clapton subtly framing the song with his deft plucking.

As enjoyable as the audio CD is, the DVD is really where it’s at with this set. Part of the fun of this concert is simply observing how much Clapton and Marsalis enjoy playing together, and what a thrill it is for the rest of the band to be a part of it. The demeanor displayed by the musicians just makes it a more enjoyable experience for the viewer.

Watching or listening to Clapton and Marsalis tag team the music that influenced them isn’t going to turn your world upside, but it’s an enjoyable and an enriching experience for anyone with even a cursory interest in rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz, or anything in between.