American blues rocker Joe Bonamassa has never concealed his love for Britain. Exponents of English blues from the 60s and 70s, such as
Eric Clapton,
Jeff Beck and
Peter Green, he considers his greatest influences. For the musical Anglophile Bonamassa, it was an unfulfilled dream to be included in the renowned Abbey Road Studios, where many of his heroes preceded him. For the ultimate London experience,
… Bonamassa left for the English capital weeks before the scheduled recording sessions to work on songs. He called in the help of local greats such as Jools Holland and former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden. Royal Tea starts with When One Door Opens, an epic 7-minute song that sets the tone for a varied album. There's some flirting with big band and country songs. Luckily for the fans, the theme remains Bonamassa's bluesy guitar skills. (JV)more
