[Slowhand] Ragging, Whining, And Stainton

[Nicholas Aleshin]

I like the way Clapton has played with Steve Winwood. When he has to  
play lead guitar, it forces him to do good work. But it seems to me  
that when there are other guitarists, he often gets lazy. I don't pay  
$150 per ticket to see Doyle Bramhall or Derek Trucks play guitar; I  
pay it to see ERIC CLAPTON play guitar. When he's on, he's the best.  
When he's lazy, I feel cheated. He knows that he can do better, that  
he can play more and better guitar. And even when Winwood plays  
guitar, Clapton doesn't ramp it down. That's good, but he does seem to  
ramp it down when Doyle or Derek play alongside. While they are good  
guitarists, I want to see and hear Clapton play, not them.

Slowhand Digest subscribers know quite well that I call 'em as I see  
'em. If I think EC can do better, then I feel cheated and I'll let  
everyone here know. But I back up what I say with examples, so I don't  
consider it either ragging or whining, but criticism of someone who  
can do better. I also enjoy a good debate, as long as it's civil and  
based on substance. Listening to and watching the "Live From Madison  
Square Garden" performances give me hope that we can expect a  
"working" Eric Clapton on next months' tour with Steve Winwood.

There aren't too many keyboards players who know how to play good  
blues piano, but Chris Stainton is one of them. I also like Winwood  
and John Mayall as well. All three are among the most empathetic  
keyboards players I've heard. There are others whom I cannot recall at  
the moment, but while Dave Sancious, Tim Carmon, and Greg Phillinganes  
may be good musicians, I prefer Stainton. Why? Well, probably because  
these latter three are into more of a Motown-type/Babyface sound, and  
play weird-sounding solos that detract from the concert, in my  
opinion. But most of all, I do not find them as empathetic players as  
the previous three, at least as far as backing up Eric Clapton goes.

				DeltaNick