Royce Campbell: Plays For Lovers (2005)

Michael P. Gladstone

Senior Contributor since 2003

I came out of my musical hibernation circa 1960 and hit the streets for a new education on the past, present and future.

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Published: December 27, 2005

Guitarist Royce Campbell is a talented jazz player and composer whose accomplishments include organizing a series of Wes Montgomery tribute albums during the first half of the 1990s, as well as his own many recordings, which include last year's Six By Six, which paired Campbell in duet with guitarists John Abercrombie, Larry Coryell, Pat Martino, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Dave Stryker.

This album is clearly a mood jazz work with a heavy dependence upon string arrangements. All but two of the nine selections are well-regarded ballads and are played as the title implies, in a late night, romantic mode. Only on "Waltz For Debby" and "I Concentrate On You," both taken at mid-tempo, is there any chance for improvisation for both Campbell and pianist Bill Charlap. Campbell has a well-rounded tone with some resemblance to Kenny Burrell and Charlap is one of today§s finest jazz pianists.

This album has an interesting history. It was originally released by the Japanese King Record Label in 1995 and under the name Waltz For Debby and, as such, was only available to a limited audience. It was re-released in 1999 in the US under the title Royce Campbell With Strings and again there was little attention from the public. Under a new arrangement, and a new title, Royce Campbell now receives one more opportunity to have his fans hear this session.

Track Listing: Estate; Body And Soul; Sounds Of Love; Waltz For Debby; A Time For Love; I Concentrate On You; I Feel Like We Have Met Before; But Beautiful.

Personnel: Royce Campbell: guitar; Fred Hersch: piano; Lynn Seaton: bass; Mark Wolfey: drums; Dick Dennis: violin; Cathy Morris: violin solos; Carrol DeCamp: arranger, conductor.

Record Label: Moon Cycle
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream