JJ Cale - To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J.Cale (DVD)
To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J, Cale kicks off with J.J. Cale taking the stage and then cutting to rain falling on the tour bus as it coasts along the highway merging Cale with the American landscape. The mood is set for this access all areas, biographical documentary. Directed by Jörg Bundschuh, To Tulsa and Back manages to capture J.J. Cale perfectly and draws you in to the journey. Laid back and honest much like the subject of the documentary J.J. Cale comes across as an unassuming man, content with where his music has taken him.
J.J. Cale an established singer/songwriter is man behind the songs After Midnight and Cocaine made famous by guitar legend Eric Clapton who does make the occasional appearance. Cale is an independent artist in the truest form, shunning the trappings of fame with his somewhat stubborn sense of career control, making records and touring only when he wants. A key to Cale’s longevity besides his talent and craft is a sense of humour and knowing what he wants.
The DVD features interviews, live music and archived footage of moments in time relevant to Cale’s past. You get to know more about Cale the artist and Cale the man behind the music. And the bond he shares with people around him is captured in candid moments with his family of backing musicians, crew, friends, producers and managers.
There are sweet moments such as when Cale acts as a tour guide around his home town or when he is talking about youth and Tulsa. He sits with guitar and amp playing his blend of country fused rock juxtaposed with Tulsa’s concrete jungle in the background. The beauty of this documentary is the mix of art, stunning cinematography, sweeping over American landscapes and the raw reality. Coupled with tracks, the scenes just flow at a magical pace.
Having been fortunate enough to experience the touring life, this documentary does not attempt to glamorize or over exaggerate the experience. Cale’s insights towards the music business would be relevant to many artists today,but who will not understand it unless they’ve walked down his path.
To Tulsa and Back: On tour with J.J.Cale is a well presented piece, made at a perfect moment in his career. Although approaching his 70’s, when Cale is with guitar in hand, he is in his element and will forever be in his prime.
