Jazz Articles about Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton: Fire Wire

by John Kelman
April 17, 2006

If veteran session guitarist Larry Carlton's Sapphire Blue (Bluebird, 2004) was a first shot at the bow of those who'd written him off as too smooth, Fire Wire is a veritable volley. Sapphire Blue found Carlton in a more energetic, blues-based context, but his trademark singing tone still spoke the language of jazz. Leaving all such references behind, Fire Wire is more rock instrumental than jazz fusion--and the rawest album he's made in his forty-year career.

The laid-back minor blues ...

Larry Carlton: Fire Wire

by Sarah Moore
April 15, 2006

Steely Dan session musician and former Crusaders member Larry Carlton brings another dose of fusion with his latest release, Fire Wire. The followup to his 2004 album Sapphire Blue includes a horn section named after that CD. The disc begins with an upbeat, hard edge that takes you worlds away from the smooth, complacent jazz guitar sound you might have expected from earlier recordings. With a style evoking Stevie Ray Vaughan's blues in “Double Cross, Carlton breaks free from the ...

Various artists: A Jazz Portrait Of Brian Wilson - Wouldn't It Be Nice

by Mark Sabbatini
March 26, 2005

This is definitely no day at the beach. Whether that's good or bad is highly subjective for A Jazz Portrait Of Brian Wilson, a 17-song tribute by contemporary artists such as Don Grusin, the Clark Burroughs Group and The Yellowjackets. Originally a 1997 Blue Note release, it was remastered and rereleased by IN2N Entertainment in 2004. Those not expecting instrumentals close in form to the Beach Boys leader will hear interesting ideas at work. But there's no question ...

Larry Carlton: Sapphire Blue

by John Kelman
March 10, 2004

Yet another artist finds himself on a new label and the experience refreshes and reinvigorates. Earlier this year it was Mike Stern and late last year it was Terence Blanchard; in the case of guitarist Larry Carlton, he has signed with one of the few remaining majors that is not afraid to let its artists have full creative control. Bluebird/BMG is, of course, the label that has given Dave Douglas complete artistic latitude and now, with Sapphire Blue, Carlton, while ...

Larry Carlton: Sapphire Blue

by Michael P. Gladstone
February 12, 2004

Fans of veteran guitarist Larry Carlton will be interested in his latest career move. Carlton's multifaceted guitar work has been evident after decades of sterling studio work in Los Angeles as well as many solo recordings which go back as far as 1968. He has been the guitarist of choice for many pop and rock performers including the Steely Dan group in the late 1970s. Recording and touring with the Crusaders during the early 1970s, he developed the famous blues ...

They Came to Play - Larry Carlton & The Sapphire Blues Band

by AAJ Staff
December 9, 2003

Larry Carlton & The Sapphire Blues Band The Iridium, New York City December 4, 2003

They came to play. The U.S. debut of Larry Carlton & The Sapphire Blues Band was spectacular. The horn section alone blew the doors off of New York City's popular jazz club, The Iridium, located at 51st & Broadway.

My brother Addison (an alto player) and I snuck in just in time as Troy at the door escorted us to a ...

Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather: No Substitutions - Live in Osaka

by Scott Andrews
December 1, 2001

Longtime L.A. studio guitarists and friends Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather lead a quintet rounded out with keyboards, bass, and drums on five instrumental tracks recorded live in Osaka, Japan.

No Substitutions opens with the Jeff Beck tune “The Pump," featuring repeated guitar solos over a long, static bass groove of steady eighth notes. After a blissfully contrasting quiet middle section, the song plods on to its total length of over 14 minutes. The next track, a 12:8 shuffle called ...