Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood - Live From Madison Square Garden

                                                                

Live From Madison Square Garden is a double CD recording from Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood (there was also a DVD version) taken from a series of concerts they held in late February 2008, and released in 2009. Although they had collaborated in the mid 1960’s (prior to the formation of Cream and Traffic), they are best known for the band Blind Faith which they formed in 1969, a group that seemed to have great promise, yet only lasted a few months, including a single tour. Eric and Steve remained friends however, and performed together occasionally over the years. After a successful performance together at Eric’s 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival, they decided to perform together (with a band) at Madison Square Garden.

Several songs from the Blind Faith album were performed, along with selections from both Eric and Steve’s career’s. All of the involved musicians are in excellent form, and on the whole sound well rehearsed with all of the songs played enthusiastically. These shows were the first full Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood concerts in almost 40 years. To hear selections from their time together as Blind Faith played again live was something I really enjoyed, and one can’t help but wonder what might have happened if they had managed to stay together. As I like to say, highly recommended.