I couldn’t be more excited to be performing a show with one of my great music heroes, Mr. Bobby Whitlock, coming up in March.
Bobby is someone you need to know. While his name might not instantly ring a bell as some of his contemporaries, Bobby Whitlock stands as one of the pinnacle musicians responsible for bridging blues and rock ‘n’ roll in the late 1960s and early 70s. Bobby’s best known as a member of Derek and The Dominos, a band he shared with Mr. Eric Clapton when his solo career was starting. Bobby is one of the driving forces behind George Harrison’s first solo record, the masterpiece “All Things Must Pass.” He was an instrumental player in one of the roads greatest warrior groups: Delaney and Bonnie and Friends. His playing on “Derek and The Dominos: Live In Concert” has him placed in the highest regards of all jam band musicians.
Bobby’s the real deal, folks.
“Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” may just be the greatest blues rock album ever made. I’ll go out on a limb and say it is. For me, the performances of Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, combined with the rhythm section of Carl Radle and Jim Gordon, and finished with the soulful voice and inspired Hammond B3/Piano playing of Bobby Whitlock are absolutely legendary. While Cream and The Allman Brothers often define these players, it is their combined talents that send the “Layla” album into the stratosphere. Songs like “I Looked Away”, “Anyday”, “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad”, “Thorn Tree In The Garden”, “Tell The Truth”, and the cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” are just an unstoppable tour-de-force that brings any listener in to that moment in time when these talented players were changing the rules.
In 1994 or 1995, I was given the “Layla” album and “Derek and The Dominos: Live At The Fillmore East” which was the live album recorded in October 1970 – during The Dominos only U.S. Tour. The live versions of these tunes did not feature Duane Allman, but showcased a very tightly coordinated four-piece group interpreting the songs in a “jam” style format. “Got To Get Better In A Little While” is a stunning start of the album, and Clapton’s wah-wah work in the beginning jam of “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad” may be some of his best recorded playing. Clapton’s solo material: “Bottle Of Red Wine”, “Blues Power”, and “Let It Rain” all stand up well in the live context. The Domino’s reworked version of “Crossroads” is quite the departure from Cream – but pulls at your soul for a good six minutes before ending in a climax of blues guitar that rivals the 1968 version in every way. “Live At The Fillmore” (or the original title “Live In Concert”) is often overlooked by many…those who know the material cherish this album as a snapshot of a true Dominos concert.
On March 4th, 2016 – I’ll produce and play lead guitar with Derek and The Dominos Bobby Whitlock and his wife Coco Carmel at The House Of Blues New Orleans. I could not be more excited. Stories and songs from these legendary performances will be featured all night as we present these incredible songs in an intimate setting. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.com/bobby-whitlock-and-coco-carmel-house-of-blues-new-orleans-new-orleans-la/venueartist/221834/2116602
Join us what is sure to be one of the most special shows I’ll ever play – my favorite songs with one of the key players who wrote and performed them!