Crossroads Guitar Festival

I can't say this 2 DVD set blew me away. There are some OK performances but 98% of them are just OK. I bought this (used I might add-cheap!)coming in as a guitar fan and mostly as a fan of Eric Johnson and Pat Metheny - although I do love 95% of the other great names on this disc. Most of the artist's cuts here are just OK. However.........................

I will keep this disc as Robert Cray plays the performance of a lifetime with TIME MAKES TWO. After reading most of the reviews (there were 158 at the time) only 2 people mention fact to this! Are you not listening people? Mr. Cray simply turns in the greatest of blues performances - he sings and plays his @ss off and lets each member of the audience (even the DVD audience)know that HE HAS THE BLUES! One of the best musical performances ever IMHO. If you don't feel something at the end of this track, well then, I don't know what to say? Maybe David Cassidy does it for you........dun'no?

I've seen Robert live before (mid 90s) and it was OK. He's never been my fav but I've always had respect for him. I thought more people would mention the R.C. performance. Well, out of deep respect, I am letting the whole world know about his performance. Robert, you truly deserve such praise and acknowledgement on THE BEST BLUES PERFORMANCE of the past 100 years (yeah, I heard that one note near the end but it didn't take away ANYTHING!)

I give it 5 stars but take away 2 because the rest of the disc is so average.

This two-DVD set captures a once in a lifetime event. From blues legends like BB King and Buddy Guy, folk rock artists like JJ Cale and James Taylor, rockers like Joe Walsh, to Eric Clapton who has a little of every style in him, this is an amazing festival in every way.

To see BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Jimmy Vaughn all on the same stage together singing "Rock Me Baby" is incredible. I enjoyed hearing "After Midnight" by the original artist (JJ Cale), and I liked the fact that although Clapton was on stage with him, he let Cale sing it his way. (Anyone who knows Clapton knows that he rocked up "After Midnight" to the point where it didn't sound like the original at all.) I believe that's a testiment to how much respect Clapton had for his fellow musicians.

Joe Walsh was in a bit of a playful mood during his set. He introduced "Rocky Mountain Way" by saying, "If I had known I'd be singing this song for the rest of my life I probably would have written something else. But I didn't so you're stuck with this one." I thought that was good.

I have both this DVD and the DVD from the 2007 festival, but I strongly prefer this one for its lineup and songs.

I usually try to refrain from negative reviews on musical performances but since everyone is hailing the DVD, I'll add some brief "shoulda's" that I would've like to have seen in the DVD...

A little too much footage of John Mayer but I guess the producers were hoping to snag the younger crowd.

I was also a little disappointed that despite showing Neal Schon on the side of the stage and in a brief interview segment, there is no footage of him playing!!? Would've also liked to have seen Jeff Beck who I understand was there but left out of the final edit. And I concur that there are many other guitarists more worthy than who did make the cut...Di Meola, Knopfler, David Lindley, Betts, Lukather, Coryell...

Oh well, maybe on the next DVD.

Disc 01 is missing. The box came in with 2 Disc 02. I am still trying to figure out how this could have happened. The sealed item was delivered to my hotel address in Las Vegas. I was there on a visit when I placed the order. I opened the package when I got back to my home in Pakistan and got this surprise. I did not expect this from Amazon.

This was just jam packed full of amazing music. I like how everyone there got a 1-3 song set and then things kept moving, it is truly for a great cause and really uplifts the watcher and gets them motivated not only for music, but just for being a good happy person for the rest of the day or the next day