Always something to see a fantastic musician who is greatly admired by yet another fantastic musician. I’m talking about England’s Stevie Winwood who performed in Udine’s castle (the musician who admires Winwood? Non other than Eric Clapton, who not only played together with Winwood in the short-lived super rock group Blind Faith but who just finished touring with Stevie in the States in June of this year!).
This was the third time for me to see Winwood live, the very first time was more than 10 years ago in Rome together with Tito Puente (shortly before Puente died). The second time was near Udine in 2004.
Unquestionably, it’s ALWAYS a treat to see such a laid-back performer (he came out wearing jeans and a simple shirt) who at the tender age of only 15 played with the Spencer Davis Group given his extraordinary singing capabilities, similar to that of great Afro-American blues singers. The man also played with another incredible legend of rock music, Jimi Hendrix, on his album “Voodoo Lounge”, not to mention Traffic.
Watching Winwood up close I also couldn’t help think about the time 40 years ago (in June) when he, Clapton, Ginger Baker on drums (Clapton’s mate in the so-called acid group Cream) and Ric Grech played in front of a “mere” 100,000 people at London’s Hyde Park! And here he was in tiny Udine playing for about 2,000 people with some memorable hits such as “Gimme Some Lovin’” which was also made famous by the Blues Bros.
Winwood opened with “Nine Lives” on his traditional Hammond piano and then proceeded with other hits such as “Can’t Find My Way Home”, “Hungry Man” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy”. The real treat was to come though when he got up from his organ, took center stage and grabbed his 6-string guitar to play a long and inspiring medley. Watching his guitar-playing style, which looked somewhat similar Mr. Slowhand, you could understand why Clapton is his great admirer (he’s also admired another great of rock/blues music, Stevie Ray Vaughan whom I got to see in the late 1980s in Montréal’s old Forum arena shortly before he’d die in a helicopter crash. Clapton was also aboard another helicopter when Vaughan perished that night)! Exceptionally cool and outstanding was Winwood’s guitar capabilities, without a doubt.
Stevie also comes across as very humble person, but then again, when you’ve had the impressive career he’s had, there’s no need at age 61 to prove to many out there who you really are, right? After close to two hours of fine music and with the back-up of four outstanding musicians on guitar, congos, sax and drums, Winwood left us all with “Gimme Some Lovin’”. I doubt any of us could have asked anything more from this great artist (except, perhaps, a surprise appearance by his old mate Eric...). All pics by M. Rimati.
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