Crossroads Guitar Festival
 | Directed by Ron de Moraes Starring: Eric Clapton, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, James Taylor (XVII), Rocky Frisco Warner Strat. Mkt., 2004, DVD Customer Rating: 159 reviews Recommend |
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In June 2004, some of the greatest living guitar players and their bands gathered at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, for a three-day festival to benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. It was the ultimate concert for any music lover, featuring one legend after the other: Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, James Taylor, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Santana, ZZ Top, and many more. This 2-DVD set beautifully documents the event and contains over 4 hours of content. Planned extras include in-depth artist interviews, a mini-documentary, photo gallery, alternate angle, and more. Royalties from the DVD sales will benefit the Crossroads Center.
Although it could have been twice as long, this double-DVD set effectively captures over three hours of highlights from one of the most comprehensive and diverse collection of guitarists ever assembled for a single event. Recorded over three days in June of 2004 to benefit Eric Clapton's Crossroads Center in Antigua (as do the sales of this set), the show is not surprisingly heavy on the rootsy blues and country that comprise Clapton's primary inspirations. But it also includes folk (James Taylor), gospel (Robert Randolph & the Family Band), fret-shredding rockers (Steve Vai who delivers a dazzling performance), jazz (John McLaughlin), and, most interestingly, Indian classical music (a stunning piece from Vishwa Mohan Bhatt).
Most compelling are the rare and sometimes unusual collaborations. Joe Walsh and Taylor clown around on "Steamroller Blues," and Booker T. & the M.G.'s back both Joe Walsh on a rollicking "Rocky Mountain Way" and Los Lobos' David Hidalgo tearing into a sizzling "The Neighborhood." Clapton and J.J. Cale share the stage as do Clapton and Carlos Santana, and a show-stopping blues summit with Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Clapton is a treat for all involved.
There are some shortcomings. The event isn't presented in chronological order — different stages, days, and backing bands are shuffled with Clapton's own set scattered throughout — ZZ Top's closing is a bit anticlimactic, and there are many omissions due to time constraints. But every act rises to the occasion, and this expertly recorded and shot DVD gives the viewer a front-row seat to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. — Hal Horowitz
Title: Crossroads Guitar Festival
Sales Rank: 3237 in Music
Actor: Eric Clapton, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, James Taylor (XVII), Rocky Frisco
Director: Ron de Moraes
Studio: Warner Strat. Mkt., 2004-11-09, Theatrical Release: 2004-10
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Enhanced, Live, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.78:1
Languages: English (Original Language), German (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 210 minutes
Package Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches, 0.3 pounds
- 1 Best Blues Performance of the Century Award
- I can't say this 2 DVD set blew me away. There are some OK performances but 98% of them are just OK. I bought this (used I might add-cheap!)coming in as a guitar fan and mostly as a fan of Eric Johnson and Pat Metheny - although I do love 95% of the other great names on this disc. Most of the artist's cuts here are just OK. However.........................… More reviews
- Just Stunning
- This two-DVD set captures a once in a lifetime event. From blues legends like BB King and Buddy Guy, folk rock artists like JJ Cale and James Taylor, rockers like Joe Walsh, to Eric Clapton who has a little of every style in him, this is an amazing festival in every way.
To see BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Jimmy… More reviews
- Nice but could've been better
- I usually try to refrain from negative reviews on musical performances but since everyone is hailing the DVD, I'll add some brief "shoulda's" that I would've like to have seen in the DVD...
A little too much footage of John Mayer but I guess the producers were hoping to snag the younger crowd.
I was also a little disappointed… More reviews
- Missing Disc 1
- Disc 01 is missing. The box came in with 2 Disc 02. I am still trying to figure out how this could have happened. The sealed item was delivered to my hotel address in Las Vegas. I was there on a visit when I placed the order. I opened the package when I got back to my home in Pakistan and got this surprise. I did not expect this from… More reviews
- Just amazing uplifting music for a truly wonderful cause
- This was just jam packed full of amazing music. I like how everyone there got a 1-3 song set and then things kept moving, it is truly for a great cause and really uplifts the watcher and gets them motivated not only for music, but just for being a good happy person for the rest of the day… More reviews
