Organized by the Hendrix estate, this disc has plenty of highlights: "Purple House" by Prince and former Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham showcases Prince's amazing guitar skills - the best track, and from an artist who, like Hendrix, managed to be a great innovator and commercial success while crossing the barrier between rock and r&b. Carlos Santana and Living Colour's Corey Glover perform an excellent cover of "Spanish Castle Magic," with an inspired jazz rhythm section: bassist Stanley Clarke and the late, great Tony Williams, arguably the greatest drummer of all-time. Elsewhere, Sting sings and plays bass on a cover of "The Wind Cries Mary," which has some searing guitar work by John McLaughlin; George Clinton and Bootsy Collin ( of Parliament/Funkadelic/etc. ) shake it up with "Power of Soul," Chaka Khan and Kid Rock's guitarist Kenny Olson do a strong version of "Little Wing," the late, great blues legend John Lee Hooker covers "Red House" ( actually a track from a previous John Lee CD; he passed away before he could record something new, so they selected this as a tribute to him as well ), and an awesome live recording of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble performing "Little Wing" and "3rd Stone..." from Oct, 20, 1983 in Philadelphia for the King Biscuit Flour Hour. Granted, none of these covers 'surpass' the originals, and there are some mild disappointments, like an Eric Clapton/Chic collaboration on "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" (a real letdown) and Lenny Kravitz's contribution, but as tributes go, this is surprisingly good, the kind you'll actually listen to again.


Tracklist:

01. James "Al" Hendrix / Gratitude
02. Musiq / Are You Experienced?
03. Santana / Spanish Castle Magic
04. Prince / Purple House
05. Sting / The Wind Cries Mary
06. Earth Wind & Fire / Voodoo Child(Slight Return)
07. Bootsy Collins featuring George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars / Power Of Soul
08. Eric Clapton / Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
09. Lenny Kravitz / Have You Ever Been(To Electric Ladyland)
10. James "Al" Hendrix / 30 Years
11. Devoted Spirits featuring George Duke / Who Knows
12. Robert Randolph & The Family Band / Purple Haze
13. Velvert Turner / Going Home
14. Chaka Khan & Kenny Olson / Little Wing
15. Sounds Of Blackness / Castles Made Of Sand
16. Eric Gales / May This Be Love
17. Cee-Lo / Foxy Lady
18. John Lee Hooker / Red House
19. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble / Little Wing,3rd Stone From The Sun