The foremost book of GRP's Larry Carlton Collection takes the listener from the begin of his solo career upwards to 1990. Starting off amongst ane cutting from his foremost Warner Bros. album, Larry Carlton, the collection goes on to include 2 tracks each from Sleepwalk in addition to Friends, 2 each from the acoustic guitar albums Alone/But Never Alone in addition to Discovery, in addition to ane from On Solid Ground. In addition, the CD throws inward 2 then-new tracks, "Small Town Girl" in addition to "For Heaven's Sake" -- pleasant melodic pieces amongst acoustic guitar lead, cipher extraordinary. Along the way, you'll hear closed to rattling catchy tunes long identified amongst Carlton ("Smiles in addition to Smiles to Go," "High Steppin'," in addition to "Minute past times Minute"), a mellower rendition of "Nite Crawler" than the version he recorded every bit a Crusader, in addition to the relaxed, funky "Bubble Shuffle." For closed to changes of pace, at that spot is an affectionate tribute to the surf sounds from almost his hometown of Torrance ("Sleepwalk"), in addition to ane harder-edged number, "Blues for TJ," that finds Carlton crossing swords amongst B.B. King virtually every bit an equal. Mostly, though, this is ingratiating smoothen jazz that rattling ofttimes transcends the conventions of the idiom.
Like therefore many other Los Angeles studio musicians, guitarist in addition to composer Larry Carlton was faced amongst a selection a number of years back: whether to become solo in addition to prepare a lift for himself, or to laissez passer on along the less risky, to a greater extent than lucrative existence of a session guitarist, making expert coin in addition to recording amongst prominent musicians. Fortunately for fans of this eclectic guitarist, he chose the former, in addition to has recorded nether his ain lift for Warner Bros., MCA Records, GRP Records, in addition to diverse other labels since 1978.
Carlton's studio credits from the ''0s in addition to early on '80s include run amongst musicians in addition to groups similar Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, in addition to literally dozens of others. Among his to a greater extent than notable projects every bit a session guitarist were Joni Mitchell's critically acclaimed Court in addition to Spark album in addition to Donald Fagen's Nightfly album. For much of the '70s, Carlton was active every bit a session guitarist, recording on upwards to 500 albums a year. Although he recorded a number of LPs nether his ain lift every bit early on every bit 1968's With a Little Help from My Friends (Uni) in addition to 1973's Playing/Singing (Blue Thumb), he didn't terra firma a major-label contract until 1978, when he signed amongst Warner Bros.
Carlton began taking guitar lessons when he was six. His foremost professional person gig was at a supper guild inward 1962. After hearing Joe Pass on the radio, he was inspired to play jazz in addition to blues. Wes Montgomery in addition to Barney Kessel became of import influences shortly subsequently he discovered the jazz guitar stylings of Pass. B.B. King in addition to other blues guitarists had an impact on Carlton's means every bit well. He honed his guitar-playing skills inward the clubs in addition to studios of greater Los Angeles patch he attended a local junior college in addition to Long Beach State College for a twelvemonth until the Vietnam War ended. Carlton toured amongst the Fifth Dimension inward 1968 in addition to began doing studio sessions inward 1970. His early on session run included studio dates amongst pop musicians similar Vikki Carr, Andy Williams, in addition to the Partridge Family.
In 1971, he was asked to bring together the Crusaders shortly subsequently they'd decided to driblet the give-and-take "Jazz" from their name, in addition to he remained amongst the grouping until 1976. In betwixt tours amongst the Crusaders, he too did studio session run for hundreds of recordings inward every genre. But it was patch he amongst the Crusaders that he developed his signature, highly rhythmic, ofttimes bluesy style. His credits include performing on to a greater extent than than 100 gilt albums. His topic music credits for TV in addition to films include Against All Odds, Who's the Boss, in addition to the topic for Hill Street Blues. The latter won a Grammy honor inward 1981 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Carlton delivered his self-titled debut for Warner Bros. inward 1978, shortly subsequently he was recognized for his groundbreaking guitar playing on Steely Dan's Royal Scam album. (Carlton contributed the memorable guitar solo on "Kid Charlemagne.'') He released iv to a greater extent than albums for Warner Bros., Strikes Twice (1980), Sleepwalk (1981), Eight Times Up (1982), in addition to the Grammy-nominated Friends (1983), earlier existence dropped from the label. He continued studio session run in addition to toured inward between, emerging ane time again inward 1986 on MCA Records amongst an all-acoustic album, Discovery, which contained an instrumental remake of Michael McDonald's hitting "Minute past times Minute." The unmarried won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance inward 1987. Carlton's alive album Last Nite, released inward 1987, got him a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.
While working on his adjacent album for MCA, On Solid Ground, Carlton was the victim of random gun violence, in addition to was shot inward the pharynx past times gun-wielding juveniles exterior Room 335, his individual studio almost Burbank, California. The bullet shattered his song cords in addition to caused pregnant nervus trauma, only through intensive therapy in addition to a positive frame of mind, Carlton completed run on On Solid Ground inward 1989. He formed Helping Innocent People (HIP), a non-profit grouping to assistance victims of random gun violence.
Despite the tragedy foisted on him inward the belatedly '80s subsequently he was shot, amongst a long catamenia of hospitalization in addition to rehabilitation, Carlton continued his active recording in addition to performing schedule over the adjacent 2 decades, begin amongst a number of albums during the '90s on the GRP label: 1992's Kid Gloves; 1993's Renegade Gentleman; 1995's Larry & Lee (with Lee Ritenour); in addition to 1996's The Gift. Carlton too released the 1995 vacation collection Christmas at My House on MCA. And inward 1997 he replaced Lee Ritenour inward the popular, contemporary jazz outfit Fourplay, foremost appearing on the group's 4 album inward 1998.
The 2000s constitute Carlton every bit active every bit ever, recording alive in addition to inward the studio every bit both leader in addition to collaborator for a diverseness of labels. Two albums on Warner Bros. began the decade, Fingerprints -- including invitee appearances past times Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Kirk Whalum, in addition to Vinnie Colaiuta -- inward 2000, in addition to Deep Into It inward 2001. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pop concert depict inward Japan, Carlton could live on heard every bit a collaborator on 2 alive recordings from that isle province during the decade, Live inward Osaka (with Steve Lukather), issued inward 2001 on the Favored Nations label, in addition to Live inward Tokyo (with Robben Ford) on 335 Records inward 2007.
Meanwhile, his albums every bit a leader continued, amongst Sapphire Blue in addition to Fire Wire released past times Bluebird/RCA inward 2004 in addition to 2005, respectively, in addition to The Jazz King -- amongst Carlton leading an all-star band performing music he composed on committee to celebrate the 80th birthday in addition to rising to the throne of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej -- issued past times Sony BMG inward 2008. In 2009 Carlton appeared every bit invitee guitarist on selected dates during Steely Dan's U.S.A. summertime tour. Take Your Pick (with Tak Matsumoto) appeared inward 2010. Always happy to come across amongst the press, Carlton has a sweet, peaceful personality, in addition to listeners laissez passer on along to hear it inward his unique rhythmic in addition to warm guitar chords in addition to ringing guitar tones. Carlton was featured on in addition to produced vocalizer Michele Pillar's vacation album, I Hear Angels Calling, inward 2011. Also appearing inward 2011 was Larry Carlton Plays the Sound of Philadelphia, followed past times Four Hands & a Heart, Vol. 1 inward 2012.
Track listing:
01 Small Town Girl 5:40
02 Smiles And Smiles To Go 5:47
03 Minute By Minute 4:57
04 For Heaven's Sake 5:10
05 Nite Crawler 5:20
06 Blues For TJ 5:18
07 10 P.M. 5:05
08 Sleepwalk 4:34
09 Tequila 4:08
10 Bubble Shuffle 5:23
11 Hello Tomorrow 5:23
12 High Steppin' 5:43
Personnel:
Larry Carlton, BB King, Dean Parks - Guitar
Abraham Laboriel, John Pena, Pops Popwell - Bass
Joe Sample, Alan Pasqua, Michael McDonald, Brian Mann, Terry Trotter, Don Freeman, Eric Pershing - Keyboards
John Ferraro, Rick Marotta, Jeff Poraco, John Robinson - Drums
Michael Fisher, Paulino da Costa - Percussion
Michael Brecker, Gary Grant, William Reichenbach, Jerry Hey, Kirk Whalum - Horns
Larry Williams - Woodwinds
Larry Carlton, Al Jarreau, David Pack, Michele Pillar - Vocals
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