Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze

Over the last few years tributes have become quite common in the Roots music world. Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Little Walter and Son House have all been honored recently with a salute to Muddy Waters due for release in August. These tributes generally fall into two categories: the artist who was influenced by someone past and never got the chance to perform with (Maria Muldaur's take on Memphis Minnie; Rory Block's "The Lady and Mr. Johnson") or a musician will honor someone they played with who helped to develop their style (John Mooney's recent salute to his mentor Son House; David Newman's tribute to Ray Charles "I Remember Brother Ray"). Eric Clapton's tribute to his friend and favorite songwriter, the late JJ Cale falls into the latter category and is aptly titled- this is truly an APPRECIATION.Clapton was first motivated for this project during the flight from England to attend Cale's funeral July of 2013. He met Don White at the funeral; White was one of the first band leaders to ever hire Cale. When White agreed to the tribute, Clapton moved ahead and hired bassist Nathan East and drummer Jim Keltner for the rhythm section (Keltner, one of the greatest drummers in history is an Okie like Cale contributing to the famous Tulsa sound).Clapton's choice of guests on this project speaks to his strength as a band leader. Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and Don White are all gifted, all very different performers yet the common thread of creating a groove unites them in this very successful undertaking. Cale was quoted in a Blues Review interview ten years ago "They needed a marketing term for me, so they picked two- "laid-back" and "recluse". True enough. But Cale's contribution of the quiet groove should be remembered as much as the "marketing terms".Clapton plays on all sixteen tracks, and the songs where he is featured work the best. His phrasing is so similar to Cale's you could swear they were in the booth together, just like their 2006 collaboration "The Road To Escondido". Clapton long ago realized he had nothing left to prove as a virtuoso, so he allows the songs to breathe, where groove and nuance are more important than flash. Mark Knopfler is a kindred spirit, and his featured cuts "Someday" and "Train to Nowhere" would make JJ proud. On "Train", Clapton and White trade lead vocal verses with Knopfler and the two guitar phenoms engage in a bit of call and response, but in a low-key manner- no one-upmanship needed here.Tom Petty duets with Clapton on "I Got The Same Old Blues", but his true shining moment is "The Old Man and Me". Petty sings this track from the album "Okie" in a low, hushed whisper. You have to really lean in and listen, which I'm sure is the point (one on-line reviewer says Petty "really steals the show" with this performance. This Florida native son has the Tulsa/Red Dirt thing down cold.Fellow Okies contribute to several tracks. Drummer Jamie Oldaker has played with Clapton on and off over the years, beginning with 1974's "461 Ocean Boulevard". Harmonica great Jimmie Markham (better known as Junior Markham) adds tasty diatonic harp to "Train".Markham is considered to be one of the caretakers of the Tulsa sound, and Clapton made a wise decision to bring him on board.The album's closer. "Crying Eyes" is the strongest track on this well sequenced disc Clapton duets with Christine Lakeland, Cale's widow and a fine singer/guitarist in her own right. Derek Trucks' is a highlight here and on the Willie Nelson vehicle "Starbound". Trucks was a featured guest guitarist on "Escondido" (check out his solo on "Missing Person"), so his appearance here is a natural fit.The fact that "Breeze" works on so many levels is a testament not only to JJ Cale's songwriting ability. but to Eric Clapton's genius as a band leader. He succeeded in gathering a disparate collection of musicians, from the thirty-something Trucks to the eighty-something Nelson and share in this tribute- a true appreciation.

If you're looking at this album, you are probably a JJ Cale fan. As a fan, you want to know if this is an appropriate tribute to the great man. I can unequivocally say YES. Eric Clapton and friends did an amazing job channelling JJ through sixteen of his best tunes. My wife is a *HUGE* Cale fan and remarked that on most tracks it sounds like JJ singing and playing. I agree. Eric Clapton did an amazing job with this and earned bonus respect points for not including Cocaine - his biggest cover from JJ's work. Instead we have a good mix of well-known and lesser-known tunes, but all of them sound great. The talented guest artists help make this a memorable experience.I still become wistful when I realize that we'll never have new work from this great understated American musician, but 'The Breeze' helps soothe that hurt somewhat.~ Kort

As Eric Clapton continued to do extremely well in the 2010’s, The Guitar Godhave decided to pay an all-star tribute CD to singer-songwriter J.J. Cale, a closefriend of his who have wrote a few of Clapton’s classic songs like After Midnightand Cocaine, and released there duet album The Road To Escondido in 2006 toto time-honoured acclaim. With the official title taken from Cale’s 1972 hit single,The Breeze (An Appreciation Of J.J. Cale) again find Clapton heading an all-starrevue as it features Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, DerekTrucks, Albert Lee and Doyal Bramhall III for a classic jubilant celebration of thisbrilliant songwriter. Starting off on a solid note on They Call Me The Breeze, thewell-gathered track set proceeds head on, as Petty (Rock And Roll Records andThe Old Man In Me), Knopfler (Someday and Train To Nowhere), Nelson (Star-bound), Mayer (Lies and Magnolia) and Trucks (Crying Time) proudly contributeto the star power. Also added to The Breeze (An Appreciation Of J.J. Cale) aresuperb solo takes on Cajun Mood, Since We Said Goodbye, and I’ll Be There IfYou Ever Need Me that are performed by Clapton himself, which makes this all-star classic such a terrific and fascinating listening experience, as they ode theirrespect to Cale, who had written as many songs for other musicians in the rock,country and western and pop categories. What makes this classic tribute albuma truly splendid success is how Eric Clapton And Friends handled the recordingwith grace and robust merit, which ranks as one of his greatest achievements.

As tribute discs go, this is a good 'un -- and a special one. Some great guests (Mark Knopfler, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty among them), for sure, but this is clearly Clapton's restless farewell to his great friend, cohort, and mentor, the great J.J. Cale. As with everything he does, Clapton's tribute to the great songwriter is a first-class affair. Beautifully produced and played, the guests compliment the music rather than dominate it, which is as it should be. Clapton is terrific throughout, leading the charge through a sterling set of J.J. Cale's songwriting highlights. For me, Call Me the Breeze, Cajun Moon, Magnolia, and The Old Man and Me are the standouts, but that'll change from time to time. Four stars and highly recommended to Clapton, Cale, and Americana fans.

Five stars is not enough for this CD! Love it 💙💙

What can I say. Great music from some true legends. I am blown away buy these great guitar players, each with their distinctly recognizable style. They are all my faves. Some old familar songs, some a little more rare, but all good. Great album!