Tributes come in different shapes and sizes. From emotionally-laden benefits to boring, perfunctory cover evenings. Eric Clapton knows better than anyone how to put a good tribute in the paint, because he has several to his name. After the death of singer / songwriter JJ Cale in 2013, his good friend Clapton was the right person to provide a suitable tribute. Clapton recorded dozens of songs by his
… American colleague in his long career and also went into the studio with him several times. For the tribute The Breeze (named after the classic single Call Me The Breeze from 1972) he asked a laundry list of well-known musicians for help. Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Jim Keltner; Cale is not honored by the least. We can best describe their covers as reverent. There is hardly any deviation from the original. However, asking the question what this release actually adds to the oeuvre of Cale (or that of Clapton!) Is a bridge too far. The Breeze is just too sincere for that. (JE)more
