Larry Carlton: Sapphire Blue

Following was a lengthy and successful series of recordings for Warner Brothers and later for GRP, which was interrupted for a devastating gunshot wound in his Burbank studio, followed by long hospitalization and rehabilitation. Carlton has been the recipient of several grammy awards and nominations and is also a part of the quartet Foreplay, the popular smooth jazz combo, since assuming Lee Ritenour's chair in 1998.

Those expecting a smooth jazz performance from Larry Carlton may be in for a surprise. The easiest way for me to describe this album is to compare it to the Max Weinberg Band (on the Conan O'Brien late night show) with the Vivino Brothers. Carlton's guitar is the centerpiece for this funky and sharply paced setting. A large part of the ambiance must go to B-3 organist Reese Wynan, who raises the funk level whenever he's playing. Jazz drummer Billy Kilson (on loan from Dave Holland's group) delivers a crisp time keeping function on drums. Recorded in Nashville and released last year in Japan and China, this is a brand new US release (minus the bonus track, "335," from the Japanese version).

"A Pair of Kings" starts out deceptively as a smooth-ish melody, but first the horns creep in, followed by a Wynan solo, and we're totally cooking. Mark Douthit gets some soulful "Kirk Whalum-type" tenor sax solos and the album closes with a poignant duet between Carlton and Nashville harmonica veteran Terry McMillan (along with bassist Rhodes). Jim Horn's punchy horn arrangements keep the toes tapping throughout.

As a first effort for a new label, Carlton will garner many new friends and admirers, especially those who may have typecast him for previous efforts. Stylistically, I can hear some prime-time B.B. King on some of these solos.