British Blues Explosion By Joe Bonamassa

British Blues Explosion Live, a five-show tribute to Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, records 14 songs. The 2016 recording took place at Greenwich Music Time at the Old Royal Naval College in London. Joe Bonamassa, a blues-influenced rock guitarist, pays tribute to British musicians who inspired him and shaped the genre. The two-disc album begins with JB's cover of Jeff Beck's "Bolero/Rice Pudding." Bonamassa plays such a performance with accuracy and ferocity. Eric Clapton's "Mainline Florida" follows Bonamassa. Wynans' keys gave this track a modest yet solid foundation. It doesn't overpower the music like the original, but it adds depth. Zeppelin's "Boogie With Stu" expands Bonamassa and Wynans' style. The blues guru thrills the crowd with this song's boogie-woogie groove. His guitar mastery and Wynans' piano prowess transcend this Led Zeppelin classic. "Let Me Love You, Baby," a Willie Dixon tune made famous by Jeff Beck, shows Bonamassa's influence on Page and Clapton. "Plynth (Water Down the Drain)" shows Bonamassa's Billy Gibbons influence. Raw. Gritty. Dirty. After that, Bonamassa performs Beck's "Spanish Boots" with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath-like precision and ease. This song deserves all its listeners. It's amazing. Clapton's "Motherless Children" closes the British Blues Explosion Live. Bonamassa's version made me wonder whether Delaney and Bonnie wrote it. though Joe's work shows their influence. Disraeli Gears, a Cream classic, opens disc two. Bonamassa's "SWLABR" is powerful and rousing. Another heartbreaking song and searing solo from this blues master Bonamassa and company perform Zeppelin's "Tea For One/I Can't Quit You Baby" in the album's second half. Like the original "Tea for Two," Bonamassa stomps this with a Latin flair. Bonamassa skips the verses and starts "I Can't Quit You, Baby." The guitar playing is lightning-fast and passionate. "Little Girl," originally recorded by Clapton with John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, is a standout on Bonamassa's album. Bonamassa's playing sounds more like Clapton's than the original. Bonamassa's cover of Clapton's "Pretending" maybe this 2-disc treasure chest's best surprise. Joe's laser-like axe work, with sophisticated and free-spirited riffs and a signature tone, differentiates the tune from Wynans' keyboard start. As the set ends, "Black Winter/Django" and "How Many More Times" will leave you dizzy. Live from Nowhere Particular's grandiose, Middle Eastern-influenced sound recalls Bonamassa's famous live performances. Imagine JB, Beck, Clapton, and Page sharing a stage (or, at the very least, a recording studio) together. I doubt it, but at least we have British Blues Explosion Live to keep us entertained until then! Written May 21, 2023 Joe Bonamassa British Blues Explosion Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori