Hot on the heels of his new album, guitar great Eric Clapton is set to once again thrill Hong Kong audiences in a one-night concert on February 18 at the AsiaWorld-Arena. His 2011 world tour will also include a concert on February 14 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
His latest album, simply called Clapton, has been described by critics as an inspiring body of work. Co-produced by guitarist and long-time collaborator Doyle Bramhall II, the album features an all-star cast, including the legendary J.J. Cale, drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Willie Weeks and keyboardist Walt Richmond. The sessions later added guests including Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint and Derek Trucks.
Clapton's album touches on everything from century-old traditional brass bands to brand-new originals. He indulges more in New Orleans-style jazz and blues than on his other recent offerings, and the album includes several admirable but relatively little-known songs regarded by blues aficionados as classics.
He also includes a wide range of blues sounds, including Melvin Jackson's Travelin' Alone, Robert Wilkins' That's No Way to Get Along and a selection of tunes by harmonica players. Snooky Prior's 1956 blues standard, Judgement Day, is featured, as is Little Walter Jacobs' Can't Hold Out Much Longer.
Clapton has said that the album took on a life of its own. 'This album wasn't what it was intended to be at all. It's actually better than it was meant to be because, in a way, I just let it happen. If it's a surprise to the fans, that's only because it's a surprise to me as well.'
He has assembled an impressive band for the 2011 tour that will consist of long-time touring partners Weeks, Steve Gadd (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards) and Michelle John and Sharon White as backing vocalists. Clapton is the only artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of both The Yardbirds and Cream and as a solo artist. He has also won or shared in 18 Grammy Awards. Clapton has also contributed to numerous artists' albums over the decades and toured extensively, performing thousands of concerts around the globe. Throughout his career, critics and fans have viewed him as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.