Room 335

Larry Carlton - Four Hands & A Heart Volume One (2012) {335 Records 335-1209}
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© 2012 335 Records, Inc. | 335-1209
Jazz / Blues / Guitar

This record is something special to Larry’s heart. He reviewed these previously recorded solo albums, “Larry Carlton”, “Strikes Twice”, and Sleepwalk” and picked tracks from them that really meant a great deal to him and recorded new electric/acoustic guitar versions of these classic Larry Carlton Tunes. I discovered Larry Carlton in 1978, when I bought his "Larry Carlton" lp. I was blown away by his virtuosity and his electric guitar tone. But there was something else, quite difficult to pin down. I finally read somewhere that Joni Mitchell described his playing as "like fly fishing." And that's it. It just makes you feel well; listening to his playing took me to a higher plane. This album does that in spades. The format here just gives you his naked guitar playing, and it's just beautiful. Less is more, indeed.

By the time Larry Carlton recorded Friends, his status as a guitar legend had already been established. In addition to being admired by musicians, he was also loved by Muzak programmers. His blend of happy pop-jazz was the perfect background music for dentist offices. For those who care to listen closer, there is some excellent guitar work being performed. A good example of this would be his creative improvisation on the introduction to "South Town." His duet with B.B. King on "Blues for TJ" is wonderful. It is refreshing to hear two players who are more interested in sharing ideas than showing off. The scat version of "Tequila," courtesy of Al Jarreau, was also interesting. As with most Carlton recordings, there is something here for just about everyone; there's just not enough of it.

Carlton's debut was 1968's With a Little Help From My Friends, a respectable if not boring effort of him playing popular songs of the time. As the guitarist for the Crusaders, he helped to personify their commercial and fulfilling West Coast sound from 1971-1976. During the end of his tenure, it seemed like the group was limiting what he could do on his own. In many respects, Larry Carlton renews the artist. Unlike many efforts of the time, Carlton enlists a small, accomplished band with bassist Abe Laboriel, drummer Jeff Porcaro, and Greg Mathieson on keyboards. "Room 335," an ode to the studio in L.A. where this was recorded, all but sets the stage for the style of his early solo work.

Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - No Substitutions: Live in Osaka (2001) {Favored Nations FN2060-2 rec 1998}
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© 2001 Favored Nations / Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather | FN2060-2
Jazz / Jazz Rock / Contemporary Jazz / Blues Rock / Guitar

One of the more underrated guitarists in rock is Steve Lukather. Best known for his work with Toto, Lukather is a highly sought-after session player, having played on countless albums by other artists, and has no problem adapting his playing to a wide variety of different styles. Lukather also finds the time to sporadically issue his own solo albums, and in 2001, he issued a live collaboration with fellow session guitarist Larry Carlton, No Substitutions: Live in Osaka. As expected, plenty of guitar showcases for each player are provided, especially on a pair of over-14-minute tracks – "The Pump" and "All Blues" – as well as an album-closing rendition of the Carlton classic "Room 335." Not exactly a groundbreaking jazz-rock guitar release, but fans of each guitarist should enjoy hearing each show their stuff on-stage.

Lenny Breau & Brad Terry - The Complete Living Room Tapes (2003) {Art Of Life AL1004-2 rec 1978-84}
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© 1978-84, 2003 Art Of Life Records | AL1004-2
Jazz / Modern Jazz / Post Bop / Guitar / Flute

Guitarist Lenny Breau's short life (1941-1984) is a movie waiting to be made. Before his still unsolved murder, he was able to bring a new voice to the guitar by adapting country fingerpicking technique to the intricacies of modern jazz. A Breau hallmark was his highly developed ability to play bass, chords and single notes concurrently - in effect having a trio in his right hand. The newly re-released Complete Living Room Tapes, with clarinetist Brad Terry, is a 2-CD close look at Breau in peak form, circa 1979. It contains four new bonus tracks and presents a comprehensive picture of his influences and virtuosity.

Alan Barton was a British singer and member of the hit-making duo Black Lace, alongside Colin Gibb. Their hits included: "The Music Man", "Agadoo" and "Superman". They also represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 in Jerusalem, with the song "Mary Ann", which finished seventh. Barton replaced Chris Norman in Smokie in 1986, recording six albums with them, and touring extensively as their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. He was the lead singer on Smokie's revival of their hit, "Living Next Door To Alice", recorded with British comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, as "Who The …. is Alice?". In the early 1990s he released his one and only solo album, Precious (1991) and two accompanying singles: "July 69" (1990) and "Carry Your Heart" (with Kristine Pettersen) (1991).