Crossroads – Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007 (Rhino/Reprise DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B Extras: C- Concert: B-
Despite a
line up that includes Johnny Winter, The Robert Cray Band, Jimmie Vaughn, B.B.
King, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, John Mayer, Los Lobos, Jeff Beck, Robbie
Robertson, Steve Winwood & Buddy Guy, Crossroads
– Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007 (July 28th to be exact) is
like an event, yet never totally feels like one and is both uneven and too
often muddled in a long show that does the Blues to the point of overkill in
“not the best” way.
The
intent for charity is good and the artists (including those I did not list)
certainly to deliver more than enough to please the audience, but it all seems
too laid back for its own good and unless you are a diehard fan of the Blues or
at least one of these acts, you too may find little to enjoy in the 38 tracks
here. Why does this not work? It is hard to pinpoint, but too many of the
artists seem either bored or just going by the numbers. They raised the money they needed to raise,
but as a music concert, it just never truly adds up to what it should have will
all aboard.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is not bad and clean throughout, but
motion blur and faint color holds the picture back. The DTS 5.1 mix is the highlight of the disc,
superior to the Dolby option and remixed by no less than Elliot Scheider. Without him, this would be flatter. The only extra is look at the musicians
working on The Village Stage on DVD 2. A
paper pullout inside the case also has some information and color stills of the
show.
- Nicholas Sheffo
