The Robert Cray Band, Live From Across the Pond CD Review On Rock N Roll Universe

Robert Cray has been delivering his style of blues for close to 30 years. While he has always been known for his live performances, Cray has never released an official live album up until now. 'Live From Across the Pond' was recorded in May 2006 from various shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall while opening for guitar legend Eric Clapton. Cray has always been known for his crisp, clean style of blues guitar, and does not disappoint on his latest release on Vanguard Records. The band, featuring Jim Pugh on keyboards, Karl Sevareid on bass and Kevin Hayes on drums have been backing Cray for 13 years and sound tighter than ever.

The two disc set features 14 songs spanning Cray’s career & starts off with “Phone Booth” from his 1983 release ‘Bad Influence’. The new CD also features the title track from that album. His smooth style of playing stands out on “Right Next Door (Because of Me) and the funkified “I Guess I Showed Her” both from the classic 1986 release ‘Strong Persuader’. One of the main highlights of the CD takes place on disc 2 as the band lurch into the haunting, heartfelt title track off his last studio album'Twenty,' which is his take and feeling of the war in Iraq. He also plays “Poor Johnny” and closes the CD with “I’m Walkin'’” which are both on the ‘Twenty’ album.

Overall this is a crisp album with great sound, and if you’re a fan of Robert Cray or have an interest in the blues put this CD on your list as this is a phenomenal album. My favorite tune on the album is the blues/funk classic “Back Door Slam” in which Cray really rips it loose.