Clapton and Winwood reunion thrills boomers (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - It took nearly 40 years, but the supergroup Blind Faith returned to Madison Square Garden on Monday night for the first of a three-night stand.

Well, OK, it was really just Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood (drummer Ginger Baker is AWOL and bassist Rich Grech died in 1990), but these shows marking the duos first full performances together since 1982 are plenty historic enough.

The classic rock stalwarts, who earned raves last year for their short set at Chicagos Crossroads festival, delivered a two-hour, 20-minute show featuring two-thirds of Blind Faiths recorded output -- that translates to all of four songs -- as well as numbers from their respective solo careers and Winwoods stint with Traffic. Beginning with Bline Faiths "Had to Cry Today" and ending with an encore of "Crossroads," it was a blues-heavy set list guaranteed to please the sold-out baby boomer crowd.

Claptons most recent foray into his past with the Cream reunion shows seemed a distinctly chilly affair, but he clearly was having a terrific time onstage with this former bandmate. Halfway through the show, he commented: "Ive been looking forward to this for a long time. . . . Im enjoying it, so I hope you are. So who knows, maybe well do this a bit more, I think."

Performing with a tight three-piece band that included Willie Weeks (bass), Chris Stainton (keyboards) and Ian Thomas (drums), the duo traded vocals and instrumentals with well-practiced ease. Claptons electrifying solos provided fresh energy to such numbers as Traffics "Pearly Queen" and "Dear Mr. Fantasy," while Winwoods fluid keyboard work and still-soaring vocals enlivened such songs as Jimi Hendrixs "Little Wing" and Claptons "Tell the Truth." Winwood strapped on a guitar for most of the Blind Faith songs, as well as numbers including the rollicking "Low Down."

Each star also delivered one solo number, with Clapton performing an acoustic version of "Ramblin on My Mind" and Winwood delivering a nicely moving take on "Georgia on My Mind."

Of course, the Blind Faith classics including "Had to Cry Today," "Presence of the Lord" and "Cant Find My Way Home" garnered the biggest responses, but such Clapton pop hits as "Forever Man" and "After Midnight" came close.

Reuters/Billboard.