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EC in restrained Montreux gig...
The former Cream guitar legend played Montreux in 1986 and like so many others, the performance was well recorded and well filmed, and released here on DVD.
Featuring Phil Collins on drums and Nathan East on bass, the set kicks off with 'Crossroads'. Despite some good guitar work, this is fairly mellow and lacks any real fire.
'White Room' goes down well, as do 'I Shot The Sheriff', 'Badge', 'Layla' and 'Cocaine'. Sadly all lacking a certain something, fire or whatever you call it. Hard to say if he's pandering to the audience or just not interested.
Newer tracks, like 'I Wanna Make Love To You' from his then album, sound better, perhaps being closer to the way they were intended or arranged.
That said, nothing wrong with the musicianship which is in places excellent. The music and crowd do warm up as the evening progresses. Some nice turns on some arrangements too.
Probably of wider appeal in CD format; Clapton's a great guitarist and has played some great songs, but would be nice that the 'rock out' songs were played as such here.
***½
Review by Joe Geesin
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