[Slowhand] Review - John Mayall, "70th Birthday Concert"

[DeltaNick]

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers And Friends, "70th Birthday Concert," -- 
with Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Chris Barber, and a horn section led by
former Bluesbreaker Henry Lowther -- will be released as a double CD on
Tuesday, 18 November here in the US. It was released last Monday, 10
November in Europe. A DVD will follow on 8 December (Europe) and 9 December
(US).

Overall, I recommend it highly. It's a historic recording: this is, I
believe, the first time that former Bluesbreaker Eric Clapton has played
with Mayall since 19 July 1974 in Long Beach, California. At that show,
Mayall appeared on stage during the encore number of a Clapton concert and
they jammed for a few moments. But it was not an especially great time for
the blues, and it was not an especially great period in the lives of either
Clapton or Mayall.

Exactly 29 years later, on 19 July 2003, Clapton appeared at a UNICEF
benefit concert in Liverpool, England, with Mayall and his band. Mick
Taylor, another former Bluesbreaker (and a former Rolling Stone) also played
guitar. Trombonist Chris Barber was never a member of Mayall's band, but he
has deep roots in the history of blues music in Britain, having fronted a
jazz band since the 1940s. Barber hosted Muddy Waters during his first visit
to Britain in the 1950s, and visited -- and played with -- Muddy in Chicago,
also during the 1950s. Not many of us have heard of Barber, but he's been
involved with blues music in Britain since before many of us were born, and
certainly before Clapton ever picked up a guitar. And Henry Lowther played
as a Bluesbreaker alongside Mick Taylor, when Mayall recorded "Bare Wires,"
during the late 1960s.

Anyway, the show is excellent. The Bluesbreakers perform alone, before
introducing Mayall. Mick Taylor plays on a few numbers with Mayall & Co.
Clapton and Mayall perform a guitar-piano duet, with Mayall on vocals. Then,
backed by the Bluesbreakers, Clapton plays on several numbers that Mayall
sings, and sings two tunes himself. Chris Barber joins in on trombone during
various points. And everyone plays during the finale.

Are there any surprises? Well, for starters, it's a damn fine concert.

However, if you're familiar with only Clapton, there are many pleasant
surprises.

Clapton is Clapton, and pretty much sounds as he has in recent years. Not
much else to say here that's not been said before.

Mick Taylor, as always, is an excellent guitarist, playing both
conventional, fretted guitar, and slide guitar. For the guitarists familiar
only with Clapton, I think you'll be impressed by both Mick Taylor and Buddy
Whittington on these performances.

If you're not familiar with Mayall and his band in recent years, they are an
especially pleasant surprise. They are really excellent. And Mayall's
guitarist Buddy Whittington is also impressive, as mentioned above. Equally
impressive are the other members of the Bluesbreakers: Tom Canning
(keyboards), Hank Van Sickle (bass), and Joe Yuele (drums). These guys are
damn good. Mayall always has the finest musicians in his bands, one of his
enduring legacies. And they back Clapton as well as, if not better than,
Clapton's own bands (I prefer this one).

And last but not least, is John Mayall, who will reach the age of 70 on 29
November, celebrating his birthday 4 months and 10 days early this year, as
indicated by the album's title. Mayall may be approaching 70, but I have
never seen a younger 70-year-old, both physically and mentally (and both
musically and bluesically, of course). Mayall is always outstanding,
especially on piano and harmonica.

Over the course of his career, Eric Clapton has collaborated with many fine
musicians: Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Duane Allman, B.B. King, Freddy King,
Robert Cray, to mention just a few. These others are often given special
credit for inspiring Clapton "to new heights," and John Mayall is often left
off the list. Yet, it is John Mayall, in my opinion, who shared the most
empathetic musical vibes with Clapton in his entire career. And the heights
that Clapton reached when he played with Mayall in 1965-1966 are nothing
less than legendary.

John Mayall has crusaded his entire life for the blues, 40 years
professionally. He works very hard at this, yet it's a labor of love, as the
blues can only be. On this album, Mayall performs a recent composition
called "Kids Got The Blues." The song indicates that John Mayall's crusade
has not been in vain. In writing this song, Mayall sees the results of his
labor, life, and love realized.

One more thing. I cannot think of a better birthday present for John Mayall
than this album. Thank you, John.

                DeltaNick