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Eric Clapton: Clapton

Warner Brothers

For his first album in five years, Eric Clapton assembled a top-flight band and guests like J.J. Cale, Sheryl Crow, Derek Trucks and Wynton Marsalis to make it truly special. Now 65, Clapton clearly feels nostalgic for the American blues, jazz and standards that he grew up with. Most of the songs here are fairly obscure, except for “How Deep Is the Ocean” and “Autumn Leaves.” However, Clapton’s strength is blues and several tracks featuring Kim Wilson on harmonica (“Can’t Hold out Much Longer,” “Hard Times Blues”) are standouts. But it’s Cale who really shines. The three songs that he performs remind listeners why Clapton has long been associated with the Oklahoma singer/songwriter (he wrote “Cocaine”). Stacked with horns and strings, “Everything Will Be Alright” and “River Runs Deep” are as smooth as Steely Dan. The Dixieland-style cuts featuring New Orleans stalwarts Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, Michael White and Trombone Shorty are ambitious, but fall somewhat flat. Clapton’s only song on the disc (“Run Back to Your Side”), written with Doyle Bramhall and featuring Trucks, makes you wish that he might have brought a little more originality to this something-for-everyone effort.