Music Review: Crossroads Revisited, Eric Clapton & Guests

Crossroads takes its name initially from the cover version of the Johnson blues that Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker delivered as the first super-group Cream.

Later Clapton took on the name for a drug and alcohol addiction treatment centre he established in Antigua, a project he saw as pay-back for his own recovery.

The guitar festivals that have been held regularly and organised by Eric Clapton are fund raisers for the Antigua Centre, and there have been no shortages of volunteers to make them successful.

This three album collection boasts the crème de la crème of the rock and blues communities.

BB King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Robert Cray, Gary Clark Junior, Keb 'Mo and Matt "Guitar" Murphy are among the blues contributors.

The who's who of the rock guitar world includes Joe Walsh, JJ Cale, Carlos Santana, Doyle Bramhall, Derek Trucks and wife Susan Tedeschi, Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck and Clapton himself.

Plus there are numerous other guests as diverse as John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and James Taylor.

The first Festival was held in 1999 and the sessions covered here are drawn from the many Festivals held since. There are stunning versions of Clapton's own deep catalogue.

Other standouts include his pairing with former Blind Faith buddy, Stevie Winwood on a rousing version of Presence of the Lord.

Jeff Beck shows why he's earned his reputation as a guitarist's guitarist with Cause we've ended as Lovers.

Crossroads Revisited offers one of THE best value three-album sets, with almost four hours of outstanding music.

Not every track is going to float everyone's boat, but you can be sure you'll find more than your share of tracks that will make this one of the best value music buys you'll come across in 2016.

Rating: 4/5 stars.