Yet at that topographic point is that special affect that entirely artist/steve-khan-mn0000028138">Steve Khan tin add together that makes his releases a signature audio on each outing. If you lot hear closely, you lot volition hear artist/larry-coryell-mn0000124784">Larry Coryell-ian riffs too stylings (as artist/khan-mn0000028138">Khan too artist/coryell-mn0000124784">Coryell used to jam together, too did tape together).
Much ado is made nearly artist/mike-stern-mn0000413405">Mike Stern's guitar function inward the '80s too '90s, simply i hear to artist/khan-mn0000028138">Khan too you lot volition instantly hear who his big inspiration was. Next fourth dimension you lot alternative upwardly an erstwhile artist/stern-mn0000413405">Stern liberate you lot stand upwardly a skillful peril of seeing the words "produced past times artist/steve-khan-mn0000028138">Steve Khan."
You tin totally nation that this is a Bob James production. It's non bad at all, too don't teach me wrong, James has done around neat stuff. But you lot tin also encounter why Steve Khan made no to a greater extent than Tappan Zee records, fifty-fifty though staying at that topographic point likely would bring guaranteed him to a greater extent than commercial success.
Being a Bob James production, it's far to a greater extent than dated than whatsoever other Khan record. It's also got a tighter, to a greater extent than pop-oriented sound, consummate amongst goofy melodies too disco beats. Khan's signature guitar audio is there, simply it seems to live on less center-stage than his other recordings.
With the back upwardly of Bobby Colomby, I was signed past times Bob James to Columbia Records inward 1977. It was a tremendous thrill to live on on the same label amongst around of the greatest jazz too jazz-fusion artists, i entirely has to cause down amongst the name, Miles Davis.
At the time, I suppose I felt it was my 'mission' to somehow hold the master audio too line-up of the Brecker Bros. Band, entirely featuring my guitar a fiddling more. Of the neat jazz-fusion groups from the early on '70s (Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, too Return to Forever), the Brecker Bros. Band was the entirely grouping to characteristic a 'mini' horn section, too what a horn department it was: Randy Brecker(Trumpet); Michael Brecker(Tenor Sax); too David Sanborn(Alto Sax). Along amongst Randy's brilliant, unique too underappreciated compositions, this horn trio created a style, sound, too approach to phrasing which has influenced all genres of music too players too arrangers from all over the world.
When Dave left the band to pursue his solo career, Michael too Randy decided to laissez passer on off without a 3rd horn. On "TIGHTROPE," the horn department is featured on the championship rails equally good equally the Randy Brecker original, "The Big Ones," too their playing together remains a highlight for me. During these years(through '79), I was withal playing my beefed-up, customized Fender Telecaster too likely entirely using a Fender Super Reverb.
Other highlights for me include: the drumming of Steve Gadd(especially on "Tightrope"); Michael Brecker's harmonizer-colored solo(his thought too his setting) on "Some Punk Funk"; Dave Sanborn's solos on "The Big Ones" & "Darlin' Darlin' Baby"; too the back upwardly of Don Grolnick, Bob James, too Will Lee throughout. On each of the 3 Columbia recordings, I featured i acoustic steel-string solo amidst an electrical texture, the firstly of these features was on the tune, "Star Chamber."
"TIGHTROPE" is the best selling recording I've e'er made, too is likely straight attributable to the inclusion of the Gamble & Huff aforementioned tune, "Darlin' Darlin' Baby," originally recorded past times the O'Jays. Bob James wrote the gorgeous organization the forenoon of the session. This recording also marked the kickoff of my friendship too link via album comprehend artwork to Jean-Michel Folon, all thank you lot to Paula Scher.
[1] Some Punk Funk(Steve Khan)(5:20)
[2] Darlin' Darlin' Baby(Sweet Tender Love)(Gamble-Huff)(6:29)
[3] Tightrope(Steve Khan)(5:44)
[4] The Big Ones(Randy Brecker)(6:02)
[5] Star Chamber(Steve Khan)(5:19)
[6] Soft Summer Breeze(Spencer-Heywood)(5:00)
[7] Where Shadows Meet(Steve Khan)(3:40)
Personnel:
Steve Khan - guitar & twelve-string electrical guitar
Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone
Dave Sanborn - alto saxophone
Randy Brecker - trumpet
Bob James - Fender Rhodes & synthesizer
Don Grolnick - Fender Rhodes & acoustic pianoforte (1), clavinet
David Spinozza, Jeff Mironov - guitar
Will Lee - bass
Steve Gadd - drums
Ralph MacDonald - percussion
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