Jazz Articles

Royce Campbell: Solo Trane

by Jack Huntley
July 19, 2010

There are some albums which, on the very first listening, create an immediate auditory union with the musician. Credit ability, musicality, interpretation, song choice, or a blending of each, Royce Campbell's solo guitar tribute to the music of John Coltrane, Solo Trane, is one of those albums. It crackles with energy and creative force as Campbell winds his way through the Coltrane book, adding evocative originals along the way. Campbell, a Washington D.C.-based veteran guitarist whose albums are always musically ...

Royce Campbell: The Art of Chord Solo Guitar

by John Patten
January 10, 2010

Royce Campbell's The Art of Chord Solo Guitar extends his considerable collection of solo guitar releases, this time working on a series of standard tunes.

Campbell's extensive résumé includes stints with everyone from Marvin Gaye and Eddie Harris to Henry Mancini, and it's clear he's used his professional time to gain the skills necessary to create interesting and fresh arrangements on these tunes. Harmonizing such pearls as “In a Sentimental Mood" or “The Girl from Ipanema" requires an ...

Royce Campbell: Elegy to a Friend

by Jim Santella
June 15, 2007

A versatile guitarist, Royce Campbell is equally at home with straight-ahead jazz and pure blues. When he got this group of Indianapolis jazz artists together in September 1990, it was to explore a different region altogether: jazz's modern mainstream. This allowed the quartet to explore, through original compositions, the more creative aspects of their music. Each musician stretches out considerably, and when they come together, it's with imaginative musical statements. Everybody solos prolifically.

The drummer for this session, ...

RC & The Groovediggers: Right Now!

by Jim Santella
July 5, 2006

With his smooth jazz quartet and invited guests, guitarist Royce Campbell tackles the sweet genre with this program of his own compositions. Melodies float around the room, leisure-time rhythms provide a comfortable setting, and the session's harmony remains consistently pure. Campbell's smooth jazz isn't the kind that puts you to sleep, though. He splits the selections on Right Now! between mellow romps and soulful, grooving kickers. The name he has chosen for his quartet is quite appropriate.

The ...

Royce Campbell: Gypsy Soul

by Jim Santella
April 5, 2006

In a program of originals that recalls the spirit of Django Reinhardt, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, and other masters of early acoustic swing, guitarist Royce Campbell turns to the heartfelt spirit that feeds our soul.

Born in Indiana, Campbell issued his first recording in 1983. As Henry Mancini's guitarist, he toured and became acquainted with many aspects of songwriting. His work has always remained fresh and original. Campbell's discography, which includes tributes to Wes ...

Royce Campbell: Royce Campbell Plays for Lovers

by Jim Santella
December 28, 2005

Royce Campbell's warm interpretations of seven romantic jazz standards and two originals moves nice and slow, as the smooth edges from his guitar strings give his audience a natural timbre to soak up in time. Antony and Cleopatra must have enjoyed a similar experience, since Campbell's velvety-smooth guitar melodies sail gently as if on a warm ocean breeze. Of course, legendary characters from our literature didn't have the benefit of Bill Evans' “Waltz for Debby or Royce Campbell's “I Feel ...

Royce Campbell: Plays For Lovers

by Michael P. Gladstone
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 ...

Royce Campbell: A Jazz Guitar Christmas

by Jim Santella
November 8, 2005

With his warm and sincere holiday greeting, guitarist Royce Campbell combines mainstream jazz with the Christmas tradition. His wealth of experience has taught him to treasure these holiday songs. Nineteen years as Henry Mancini's guitarist, plus numerous tours with singers Mel Tormé, Cleo Laine, Perry Como, and Marvin Gaye, have given Campbell an appreciation for the deep meaning that these songs convey year after year. The acoustic timbres of his trio allow the music to flow naturally.

With ...

Royce Campbell: Six By Six

by John Kelman
March 26, 2005

For some reason, the guitar is one of those instruments that engender competition. While there are exceptions, in general if you put two guitarists together, what you'll get is a contest to see who can be louder, who can be faster, who can be more dominant. So, when you get an album where a relative unknown teams up with five more visible players, it's not unreasonable to expect something of a whizzing contest.

Fortunately, while there's plenty of good-spirited jousting ...

Royce Campbell: Six By Six

by Michael P. Gladstone
November 5, 2004

During the first half of the 1990s, guitarist Royce Campbell produced a series of tribute albums to Wes Montgomery. These sessions appeared on Campbell's own Paddlewheel Records, which was a subsidiary of the Japanese King label. They were released in the United States on Evidence. At that time, Royce Campbell was approached regarding a new project that would team the guitarist with five leading jazz plectrists of his choice. The resulting album, 6 X 6, featuring Campbell in performance with ...