See Robert Randolph Join Eric Clapton For Riotous ‘Freeway Jam’ At Jeff Beck Tribute Concert In London

Sacred steel specialist Robert Randolph was part of an all-star lineup of iconic musicians put together by Eric Clapton who took the stage at Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday for the first of two concerts honoring the late Jeff Beck. Robert’s first appearance of the evening came at the beginning of the third set, when he teamed with Eric Clapton and band for an incendiary “Freeway Jam.”

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck died at age 78 on January 10, 2023. Clapton assembled Beck colleagues and those influenced by Jeff for A Tribute To Jeff Beck. Participants on night one included Randolph, Billy Gibbons, Ronnie Wood, Joss Stone, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and many others. Last night’s concert saw the guests backed by either Clapton or Beck’s band on 26 songs spanning Jeff’s lengthy and illustrious career.

“Freeway Jam” was penned by Max Middleton during his tenure as Jeff Beck’s keyboardist. Originally released on the iconic Jeff Beck studio album Blow By Blow in 1975, a stunning live version came out two years later on Jeff Beck With The Jan Hammer Group Live. The instrumental was a staple and often a highlight of Jeff Beck concerts from 1975 through the innovative guitarist’s final tour last year.

Eric Clapton’s band — keyboardist Chris Stainton, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, drummer Sonny Emory and bassist Nathan East — played the first and third sets on Monday. Robert Randolph emerged with Slowhand and his ensemble to get the final frame underway last night.

Randolph was dressed to impress, as usual, while cutting through the mix on pedal steel. The New Jersey native yielded to Clapton in the middle of the nine-minute “Freeway Jam.” Eric took a scorching solo and then traded licks with Robert Randolph. Emory and East held a deep pocket for Clapton and Randolph to solo over. Eric and Robert followed the composed section by delivering another round of intense solos. Bramhall got in on the action with a choice solo towards the end of last night’s “Freeway Jam.”

Watch Robert Randolph unite with Eric Clapton for “Freeway Jam” in London below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSbwUWIh994&ab_channel=Incognito

Setlist (via Where’s Eric)

Set One: Blue Rainbow (Eric Clapton, EC Band), Shapes Of Things (Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall, EC Band), Heart Full Of Soul (Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall, EC Band), Wee Wee Baby (Eric Clapton, EC Band), Little Brown Bird (Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, EC Band), Done Somebody Wrong (Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, EC Band), The Sky Is Crying (Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, EC Band), Beck’s Bolero (Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall, Ronnie Wood, EC Band)

Set Two: Elegy For Dunkirk (Olivia Safe, Robert Randolph, Jeff Beck Band), Isolation (Johnny Depp, Kirk Hammett, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck Band), Walkin’ In The Sand (Johnny Depp, Imelda May, Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck Band), Goodbye Porkpie Hat (Derek Trucks, Chris Stainton, Jeff Beck Band), You Know You Know (John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck Band), Stratus (John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck Band), Rough Boy (Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck Band), Rice Pudding (Billy Gibbons, Ronnie Wood, Chris Stainton, Jeff Beck Band), Train Kept A Rollin’ (Johnny Depp, Kirk Hammett, Ronnie Wood, Billy Gibbons, Imelda May, Jeff Beck Band)

Set Three: Freeway Jam (Robert Randolph, Doyle Bramhall, EC Band), I Put A Spell On You (Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph, EC Band), ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers (Eric Clapton, Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band), Let Me Love You (Eric Clapton, Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band), Infatuation (Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, EC Band), Rock My Plimsoul (Rock Me Baby) (Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, EC Band), I Ain’t Superstitious (Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band), People Get Ready (Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Gary Clark, Jr., EC Band), Going Down (Everyone)