Eric Clapton jams in jazz set with Wynton Marsalis

[April 09, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Eric Clapton fulfilled a childhood fantasy as the rock god turned to jazz with a performance with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The performance on Thursday was a benefit for the orchestra. The hour-long concert featured Clapton playing songs like "Corrine, Corrina" and "Joe Turner's Blues." He also did a jazzed-up version of his classic "Layla."

An admittedly nervous Clapton revealed that his love of jazz music went back to his childhood. He said he wanted to be in a jazz band when he was a kid, but the guitar took him away.

Marsalis praised Clapton for not only donating his time for the event, which raised $3.6 million, but also for his deep knowledge of the genre.

The concert also featured musical great Taj Mahal.

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Online:

http://www.jalc.org/

[Associated Press; By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY]

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