Herb Alpert - Midnight Sun

Styles: Trumpet Jazz

Year: 1992

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 51:28

Size: 119,1 MB

Art: Front

(6:06)  1. Midnight Sun

(3:54)  2. All The Things You Are

(5:18)  3. Someone To Watch Over Me

(5:53)  4. In The Wee Small Hours

(4:22)  5. Friends

(6:52)  6. A Taste Of Honey

(5:47)  7. Mona Lisa

(5:09)  8. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face

(3:51)  9. Silent Tears And Roses

(4:13) 10. Smile

Having recently sold A&M to PolyGram for a cool $500 million, and with his short but hugely affecting association with the late Stan Getz on his mind, Herb Alpert finally took the plunge and recorded what he called a jazz album, his last for the label he co-founded. But this would not be a conventional blowing session; rather it is an intimate, inward, wee-small-hours kind of album where, muted and not, Alpert's horn sighs, laments and sings over a conventional rhythm section and underneath a blanket of lush strings. Without a doubt, Miles Davis in his introspective '50s mode is Herb's primary inspiration always has been  and he uses space between the notes in similar ways, but always with his own tone and distinct phrasing. Two old favorites from the TJB days, "A Taste of Honey" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," are revisited; "Taste" is completely transformed into a dark elegy that breaks into the light before turning back to the shadows. One track, "Friends," was left over from 1990, where Herb was joined by a luminous-sounding Getz; they really play like intimate friends together. This is not a terribly spontaneous album Alpert is too much the master of structure to leave very much to chance but it creates a mood of melancholy serenity that is difficult to resist.
By Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-sun-mw0000612559

Personnel: Herb Alpert (vocals, trumpet); Larry Carlton, John Pisano, Barry Zweig (guitar); Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Frank Collett, Eddie del Barrio (piano); Monty Budwig (bass); Harvey Mason, Jeff Hamilton (drums).

Midnight Sun

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Fourplay - Energy

Styles: Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:25
Size: 115,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:52) 1. Fortune Teller
(5:25) 2. The Whistle
(4:17) 3. Ultralight
(4:57) 4. Cape Town
(5:07) 5. The Yes Club
(3:09) 6. Prelude For Lovers
(6:35) 7. Look Both Ways
(5:21) 8. Argentina
(4:54) 9. Comfort Zone
(4:45) 10. Sebastian

Fourplay is as much a conundrum as a contrivance. Their punning name suggests sexy jazz and both levels are sometimes achieved but if this collective's aim of producing what is, after all, supposed to be "pretty music" meets its goal, it may sell millions but it rarely rises above agreeable (for those paying attention) or merely listenable (for those doing other things). Energy, the foursome's eleventh release and seventh with Larry Carlton in place of original guitarist Lee Ritenour, continues this foray but with slightly better than average results. While no Fourplay album has ever produced any definitive musical statement, the eponymous first album (Warner Bros., 1991) contains many of what remains today to be the band's best and best-known music ("Bali Run," "101 Eastbound," "Moonjogger").

It also set the group's "fourmula" "Bali Run" rewrites, a strikingly anonymous ballad featuring a high-profile or label-mate singer and low-key riff-based tunes from each of the group's four leaders. Only occasionally has the group appeared to go for something greater. Several examples include "Chant" from Between The Sheets (Warner Bros., 1993), Snowbound (Warner Bros., 1999), a charming and unusual holiday collection, and the quite fine Heartfelt (Bluebird, 2002).

Here, they may have actually come up with the "energy" to make something that matters slightly more than usual. As always, keyboardist Bob James and guitarist Larry Carlton are the predominant soloists although bassist Nathan East's occasional warm vocalizations give this band its distinct personality and while James often contributes the stronger tunes, Carlton steps up here with two mildly funky gems, "Ultralight," offering a brief and welcome respite by Bob James on Fender Rhodes, and "Comfort Zone," which seems to have jumped right out of the Crusaders catalog (Carlton was one of the Crusaders in the 1970s). But, like so much in the Fourplay band book, even these lack the sort of drama or sustained interest that make a memorable tune compelling.

Bob James contributes three interesting compositions, most notably the enchanting "Sebastian," which is based on a beautiful Bach piano piece and nicely recalls his synth-driven take on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, "Ludwig," from 1983. James mines more of his past on "The Yes Club," a jaunty sprite that echoes his Lucky Seven (Columbia, 1979) fusion days and "Look Both Ways," which initially suggests One On One (CBS, 1979), his 1979 foray with Earl Klugh, then moves to suggest a few pieces on the pair's 1992 collaboration, Cool (Warner Bros., 1992). Indeed, "Look Both Ways" offers one startling minute that is the jazziest and most exciting this foursome has ever gotten. This is the way to look.

With four players of the caliber of Bob James, Larry Carlton, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason, talented and experienced beyond imagination and certainly capable of choosing their own direction, it's easy to hope for more than what Energy provides. But now, well past the group's 15-year mark, it's unreasonable to expect any substantial change. Despite this, Energy lives up to its claim, invigorating Fourplay to deliver one of its more interesting and enjoyable releases.~Douglas Paynehttps://www.allaboutjazz.com/energy-fourplay-heads-up-international-review-by-douglas-payne

Personnel: Bob James: keyboards; Nathan East: bass, vocals (4, 10); Larry Carlton: guitar; Harvey Mason: drums; Sara East: background vocal (4); Noah East: background vocal (4); Elijah East: background vocal (4); Marcel East: programming (4), percussion (4), keyboards (4), guitar (4); Esperanza Spalding: vocals (6).

Energy

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Fourplay - Heartfelt

Styles: Jazz, Crossover Jazz  
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:09
Size: 153,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:45)  1. Galaxia
(6:44)  2. That's the Time
(5:43)  3. Break it Out
(4:11)  4. Rollin'
(3:56)  5. Let's Make Love
(6:59)  6. Heartfelt
(5:55)  7. Tally Ho!
(5:18)  8. Café L'Amour
(5:28)  9. Ju-Ju
(5:58) 10. Goin' Back Home
(5:29) 11. Karma
(4:36) 12. Making Up

Breaking from their routine, Fourplay created most of the material on Heartfelt in the studio, through a process of free jamming followed by assembly of the best parts through Pro Tools editing. The differences in the results are subtle and, on balance, not necessarily positive. 

Though all four players are true virtuosos, the band's mellow feel encourages each to avoid excess, or its positive alter ego, adventurism, in their solos, while the improvisational core of the project tends to weaken the compositional foundations. The strongest cuts are those written by one member or two in combination; on these, from the Pat Metheny-inflected title track to Nathan East's velvety vocal showcase "Let's Make Love," the quartet's taste and fundamentally conservative aesthetic shine most brightly. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk https://www.allmusic.com/album/heartfelt-mw0000224952

Personnel:  Bob James – keyboards; Larry Carlton – guitar; Nathan East – bass guitar; Harvey Mason – drums

Heartfelt

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Fourplay - Yes, Please!

Styles: Jazz, Crossover Jazz 
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:15
Size: 145,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:26)  1. Free Range
(5:49)  2. Double Trouble
(4:33)  3. Once Upon a Love
(6:27)  4. Robo Bop
(6:59)  5. Blues Force
(5:33)  6. Save Some Love for Me
(8:11)  7. Fortress
(4:05)  8. Go with Your Heart
(5:15)  9. Poco a Poco
(4:20) 10. A Little Fourplay [feat. Sherree]
(5:33) 11. Lucky

There's no doubt that Fourplay is, collectively, one of the most talent-laden ensembles in contemporary jazz today. But their output to date, while always accessible to the masses, has alternated between interesting, worthwhile comtempo fare (their eponymous debut CD and their third release, Elixir ) and more watered-down, commercially-oriented "smooth jazz" ( Between the Sheets and 4 ). On their latest CD Yes, Please! , we get some of each. The disc gets off to a promising start with "Free Range," "Double Trouble," and "Robo Bop" the breezy melodies are supported with some interesting harmonies and creative background fills (Bob James trademarks) and some good group interplay. Larry Carlton's pensive, singing guitar caresses the lines of the ballad "Once Upon a Love." Carlton displays his bluesier side on "Blues Force," though James' solo seems stilted and awkward. The disc's radio offerings, however, reach new lows in sterile banality. Female background vocalists seductively coo "Save Some Love for Me (Tonight)" repeatedly over a plodding drum loop. The saccharine seduction resumes on "A Little Foreplay." Throughout this disc, mellow is the word. The tempos range from slow to medium, and the dynamics rarely reach above mezzoforte. While the musicianship is impeccable and there are interesting touches here and there, it's a very relaxed, placid outing. (Warner Bros. 47694) ~ Dave Hughes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/yes-please-fourplay-warner-bros-review-by-dave-hughes.php

Personnel: Bob James, keyboards; Larry Carlton, guitar; Nathan East, bass; Harvey Mason, drums; Sherree, vocal on "A Little Foreplay"

Yes, Please!

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John Handy - Hard Work & Carnival

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:36
Size: 181,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:59)  1. Hard Work
(5:40)  2. Blues For Louis Jordan
(7:11)  3. Young Enough To Dream
(3:47)  4. Love For Brother Jack
(4:38)  5. Didn't I Tell You
(4:44)  6. Afro Wiggle
(3:23)  7. You Don't Know
(3:29)  8. Carnival
(6:09)  9. Alvina
(5:59) 10. Watch Your Money Go
(5:16) 11. I Will Leave You
(8:16) 12. Love's Rejoycing
(4:08) 13. Make Her Mine
(2:46) 14. All The Things You Are
(6:06) 15. Christina's Little Song

Originally released separately on Impulse, this two-fer combines saxophonist John Handy's 1976 release Hard Work and Carnival, which came out the following year. These dates find Handy branching out from modern jazz and combining lite jazz with smooth R&B. "Hard Work" became a radio hit and the remaining tracks all original Handy compositions will appeal to fans of smooth jazz. Carnival is a bit more festive. The title cut has traces of the traditional melody associated with Sonny Rollins "Don't Stop the Carnival," but like the previous set, Carnival is mainly smooth jazz with synthesizers. The only cover version recorded for these dates is “All the Things You Are,” a duet with Reginald Burke on acoustic piano and Handy on alto. This two-fer offers very pleasant background music, but those expecting to hear Handy in a post-bop setting should skip this one. The music has been remastered and, while there are no bonus tracks or new liner notes, Impulse had the good taste to restore the original packaging: front and back cover art and liner notes. ~ Al Campbell https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-work-carnival-mw0002250364

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Percussion – John Handy;  Bass – James Jamerson, Sr. (tracks: 12), Ruddy Coleman (tracks: 8 to 11), Vince Jefferson (tracks: 13, 15);  Congas – Paulinho Da Costa (tracks: 13, 15), Tom Nichols (4) (tracks: 9 to 11);  Drums – Harold Jones (tracks: 13, 15), James Gadson (tracks: 1 to 7, 8, 10, 12), John Handy IV (tracks: 9, 11);  Electric Bass – Chuck Rainey (tracks: 1 to 7);  Guitar – Larry Carlton (tracks: 12), Lee Ritenour (tracks: 8), Mike Hoffmann (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11);  Keyboards – George Spencer (tracks: 10), Hotep Cecil Barnard (tracks: 1 to 7); Keyboards, Synthesizer [ARP] – Lee Ritenour (tracks: 13, 15);  Percussion, Backing Vocals – Esmond Edwards;  Percussion, Congas – Eddie "Bongo" Brown (tracks: 1 to 7);  Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer [ARP] – Reginald "Sonny" Burke;  Tabla – Zakir Hussain (tracks: 1 to 7)

Hard Work & Carnival

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Larry Carlton - Room 335 (2 parts)

Before he transitioned completely to a solo career, Carlton became one of the most in-demand studio musicians of the past three decades. Carlton’s catalog of work includes film soundtracks, television themes and work on more than 100 gold albums. Ultimately, Carlton began scaling back his session work substantially, while continuing to perform and record with the Crusaders. He shifted his emphasis to the challenges of arranging and producing, and built his own studio-Room 335-in his home. During this period he arranged and produced projects for Barbra Streisand, Joan Baez and Larry Gatlin, as well as producing and co-writing the theme for the hit sitcom Who’s The Boss and co-writing (with Michel Columbier) and arranging the acclaimed movie soundtrack for Against All Odds.

As his association with the Crusaders began to draw to a close, Carlton signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1977. Between ’78 and ’84, Larry recorded six solo albums for Warner Bros. Records: Mr. 335: Live In Japan, Friends; Eight Times Up; Sleep Walk; Strikes Twice; Larry Carlton. The latter self-titled album was released hot on the heels of his debut session with rock supergroup Steely Dan. Rolling Stone magazine lists Carlton’s tasty ascent on Steely Dan’s Kid Charlemagne as one of the three best guitar licks in rock music.

With more than 3000 studio sessions under his belt by the early 1980s, Carlton had picked up four Grammy nominations. In addition to winning a Grammy (`81) for the theme to "Hill Street Blues" (a collaboration with Mike Post), he also was voted NARAS’s "Most Valuable Player" for three consecutive years. NARAS then named him "Player Emeritus" and retired him from eligibility.

Album: Room 335 (Part 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 85:42
Size: 196.2 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2018

[5:37] 1. Room 335 (Long Version)
[4:33] 2. Sleepwalk
[5:04] 3. 10 00 P.M
[4:56] 4. You Gotta Get It While You Can
[4:55] 5. Fingerprints
[3:46] 6. Song For Katie
[5:20] 7. Nite Crawler
[5:18] 8. Last Night
[4:29] 9. Blues Bird
[4:56] 10. Point It Up
[4:34] 11. (It Was) Only Yesterday
[5:28] 12. Chicks With Kickstands
[4:56] 13. All Thru The Night
[4:19] 14. Deep Into It
[6:09] 15. Gracias
[4:13] 16. Put It Where You Want It
[7:00] 17. Rio Samba

Room 335 (Part 1) mc
Room 335 (Part 1) zippy

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Album: Room 335 (Part 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 85:36
Size: 196.0 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Iit's A Groove Thang
[3:46] 2. Closer To Home
[4:46] 3. Silky Smooth
[5:42] 4. Lazy Susan
[7:03] 5. Crying Hands
[7:31] 6. Upper Kern
[6:02] 7. Don't Give It Up
[4:32] 8. Frenchman's Flat
[4:24] 9. I Can't Tell You Why
[5:09] 10. Like Butta'
[4:51] 11. Slave Song
[3:59] 12. Don't Break My Heart
[4:15] 13. Morning Magic
[6:45] 14. The Storyteller
[4:15] 15. 'til I Hurt You
[4:15] 16. I Apologize
[3:28] 17. Where Did You Come From

Room 335 (Part 2) mc
Room 335 (Part 2) zippy

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Larry Carlton, SWR Big Band - Lights On

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:17
Size: 156.3 MB
Styles: Big band, Guitar jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[5:07] 1. Mellow Out
[5:24] 2. Milestones
[8:03] 3. Kid Charlemagne
[8:04] 4. Fnnn
[6:53] 5. Too Young To Go Steady
[7:31] 6. My Favorite Things
[7:01] 7. Room 335
[6:38] 8. Friday Nights Shuffle
[8:41] 9. The Wells Gone Dry
[4:49] 10. Black Friday

Legendary guitarist Larry Carlton & the SWR Big Band team up for a new production! Combining his roots in blues and jazz with a crossover pop rock sensibility, Carlton's unmistakable sound is marked by his signature warm tone, bright melodies and soulful guitar solos. Four time Grammy winner, Titan of Tone award recipient and legendary guitar great, Larry Carlton is one of the most influential, prolific and original guitarists in the industry. Carlton established himself from his first recording, A Little Help From My Friends. His studio credits include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. He went on to perform with the Crusaders and then with the multi platinum jazz super group Fourplay. With 30 albums to his credit and having performed on over 100 albums that have gone Gold or Platinum, Larry Carlton has set a standard for artistry that spans three decades.

For the past 60 years the 17 members of the SWR Big Band have thrilled audiences throughout Europe with a hugely varied repertoire and consistently excellent quality of music. It is indisputable that they are one of the best big bands in the world. Since 2002, they have received four Grammy nominations, which is credited to the outstanding soloists of the band, the extraordinary interplay of the musicians and great arrangements of new and classic songs alike. Their success that is also supported by the collaborations with international jazz and world music greats like Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, Sammy Nestico, and Paula Morelenbaum.

Lights On mc
Lights On zippy

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Bill Meyers - All Things In Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:59
Size: 112.1 MB
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Pop
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[5:10] 1. High Tide (Feat. Larry Carlton, Lenny Castro & Vinnie Colaiuta)
[4:07] 2. Valdez In The Country (Feat. Sonny Emory & Munyungo Jackson)
[5:28] 3. All Things In Time (Feat. Paul Jackson Jr. & Munyungo Jackson)
[5:12] 4. Lite 'em Up (Feat. Curt Bisquera, Chris Severin, Luis Conte & Tom Scott)
[4:36] 5. Sky (Feat. Earth, Wind & Fire, Sonny Emory & Munyungo Jackson)
[5:44] 6. Changing Times (Feat. Barbara Weathers & Lenny Castro)
[6:04] 7. Marrakesh
[3:18] 8. I've Got The Feelin' (Feat. Chris Severin & Brandon Fields)
[6:45] 9. Across The Water (Feat. Dianne Reeves, Will Wheaton & Brandon Fields)
[2:30] 10. The Heart Remembers

This CD, hard as it is to obtain, is an INCREDIBLE MIX of Jazz. R&B, Pop and Fusion. It features several of the members of Earth, Wind & Fire (Meyers took over the arranging chores from legend Charles Stepney in the late '80's). He infuses World Beat and Brazillian melodies and writes in a very unique but only semi-commercial vein. This is very accessable music, much of it very rhythm/groove oriented. His vocals are pleasant and conveys the mood of the title track (with a tasty groove rhythm). "Valdez In The Country", Donny hathaway's killer hit, is redone here in a uptempo slamming way with finely tuned synth horns and George Duke-style keyboards. "All Across The Water" features Dianne reeves on vocals and has an Afro-centric rhythm feel. It just BREAKS DOWN midway into a SMOKIN Funk romp that you cannot help be pump th evolume on! There is even an update on James Brown's "I Got The Feelin'". But it's the WAY Bill Meyers arranges these tracks that makes this a standout Jazz/Funk/Pop blend that I, for one, certainly enjoyed and cannot stop playing. Thjis album IS a bit hard to categorize, I suppose. I agree that "IMAGES" is Meyer's orchestral tour de force, and is closer to an Alan Silvestri movie soundtrack album (which is STILL good). It IS beautifully done-also impossible to find. But ALL THINGS IN TIME is a fantastic update to Meyer's sound and style. Contemporary Jazz lovers (like me) will find it simply astonishing and beautifully executed. For the curious, to get an idea of Meyer's song style, listen to "RUNNIN" (from E,W&F's "All In All" album). THAT track, is essential Meyers at his Contempo best! ~Contemporary Media Intrispectives

All Things In Time mc
All Things In Time zippy

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Randy Crawford - Nightline

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:01
Size: 93,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Nightline
(3:37)  2. Living On The Outside
(3:32)  3. Why
(4:08)  4. Bottom Line
(4:08)  5. In Real Life
(4:55)  6. Happy Feet
(3:59)  7. This 'Ole Heart Of Mine
(4:28)  8. Lift Me Up
(3:52)  9. Ain't No Foolin'
(3:33) 10. Go On And Live It Up

A nice combination of jazzy, sophisticated ballads, a few harder-hitting numbers, and some heartache material. The title track made it to the Top 30 on the R&B chart, and Crawford was a popular attraction on the urban contemporary and upscale R&B concert circuit. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/nightline-mw0000374878

Personnel:  Randy Crawford (vocals); Cecil Womack (vocals, guitar); Clydene Jackson, Curtis Womack, David Lasley, Julia Tillman Waters, Friendly Womack, Jr., Arnold McCutler, Linda Womack, Maxine Willard Waters, Brenda Russell , Carmen Twillie (vocals);  Dann Huff, David Williams , Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, David E. Williams (guitar); James Newton Howard, Robbie Buchanan (keyboards, synthesizer);  Denzil Miller, James W. Alexander, Eddie Noble, Jr. (keyboards);  Bill Cuomo (synthesizer, bass synthesizer);  John "J.R." Robinson , Reek Havoc, James Gadson, Jeff Porcaro (drums);  Lenny Castro (percussion).

Nightline

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Larry Carlton - New York, October '92 (Remastered)

Size: 160,1 MB
Time: 68:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Blues/Rock, Crossover Jazz
Art: Front

01. Station Intro - Minute By Minute (Remastered) (5:15)
02. Sonny Moon For Two (Remastered) (8:25)
03. Oui Oui Si (Remastered) (7:06)
04. Kid Gloves (Remastered) (4:57)
05. Emotion Wound Us So (Remastered) (5:36)
06. So What (Remastered) (9:21)
07. The Blues (Remastered) (8:45)
08. Room (Remastered) (5:27)
09. Farm Jazz (Remastered) (6:27)
10. Smiles And Smiles To Go (Remastered) (7:23)

This multi-Grammy Award-winning guitarist was one of the earliest players to merge jazz with blues, pop, and rock. Arguably best known as a session player on classic recordings by Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, and countless others, he has also had a long and varied solo career. This superb set at B. Smith's Rooftop Café in New York on October 23, 1992, was broadcast on WNEW-FM shortly after the release of his Kid Gloves album, and is presented here in digitally remastered sound.

New York, October '92

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John Klemmer - Barefoot Ballet

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:16
Size: 117,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:17)  1. Barefoot Ballet
(4:29)  2. Forest Child
(7:53)  3. Crystal Fingers
(5:12)  4. Whisper To The Wind
(7:27)  5. Poem Painter
(3:50)  6. At 17
(7:44)  7. Talking Hands
(5:13)  8. Rain Dancer
(1:07)  9. Naked

Issued on ABC in 1976, John Klemmer's Barefoot Ballet was the follow-up to the tremendously successful Touch in 1975. That set began to wrap up the various places he'd been musically in the early '70s while entering a new phase, where warm, rounded tones became his signature. Klemmer always stood outside of fusion circles, but his use of an Echoplex for his tenor opened many fusion fans to his sound. This date uses the Echoplex a lot less, tames the energy a bit, and looks with a confident gaze toward the era that would become smooth jazz with one major caveat: Klemmer was already a master technician who had come up through the big-boned honking tenors of hard bop and the modalism of John Coltrane. And unlike the hundreds of saxophonists who would follow him, Klemmer was, and remains, a brilliant melodic improviser. This set bears out the laid-back side of that gift. Accompanied by Dave Gruisin on Rhodes piano, Larry Carlton on acoustic guitar, Bernie Fleischer on flutes, bassist Chuck Domanico, drummer John Guerin, and percussionist Joe Porcaro, Klemmer wrote and arranged all but one of these nine tracks. The lone cover is of Janis Ian's classic "At 17," which was issued as a hit single and may indeed be the first track claimed for smooth jazz not a fair co-opting at all, since in Klemmer's reading of the tune, painted beautifully by Carlton and Gruisin, is a much deeper, darker emotionalism and sophisticated musicality than virtually any tune that ever came from the latter genre. Indeed, Klemmer was swinging for the commercial fences, but when the music is of a caliber this high, success should follow, right?

Klemmer creates a vibe on Barefoot Ballet beginning with the opening title track, he allows his rhythm section to expand the pocket enough for him to inhabit and blow out of from the jump. He uses his Echoplex a bit here to paint ribbons of lyric harmony all around the middle and then soars in his solo making the entire cut a song. The shimmering drift of Gruisin's Rhodes on "Forest Child" offers a slow entry to the mellow Latin percussion by Porcaro that Klemmer takes as his inspiration for the melody and later his solo. The West Coast vibe that haunts "Crystal Fingers" is a beautiful moment on this set. Klemmer's melody just sings out of the tune's frame and prompts the rhythm section to pick up the pace very gradually until they literally soar together. The slightly harder blowing on "Poem Painter" adds a soulful bounty -- underscored with Fleischer's flutes; they add a lush, textural effect to the harder Echoplex blowing, and you have something lush enough to make you ache. Klemmer took heart in the popular acceptance of Touch and Barefoot Ballet, and he began to sink deeper into the warm bubbly sound of what can only be called amniotic afterglow. His ensemble records after this began to sound increasingly formulaic for a good long while. Nonetheless, up through this point Klemmer was untouchable as an artist. ~ Tom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/barefoot-ballet-mw0000188274

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone – John Klemmer; Acoustic Guitar – Larry Carlton;  Bass – Chuck Domanico;  Drums – John Guerin;  Effects [Echoplex] – John Klemmer;  Electric Piano – Dave Grusin;  Flute [African Wood Flute] – John Klemmer;  Flute [Alto] – Bernie Fleischer;  Flute [Bass, Alto] – Bernie Fleischer;  Piano – Dave Grusin

Barefoot Ballet

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John Klemmer - Touch

Styles: Saxophone, Flute Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:43
Size: 112,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:52)  1. Touch
(3:26)  2. Glass Dolphins
(7:08)  3. Waterwheels
(6:45)  4. Free Fall Lover
(6:54)  5. Sleeping Eyes
(5:28)  6. Body Pulse
(8:02)  7. Tone Row Weaver
(4:05)  8. Walk With Me My Love And Dream

Better solos and higher energy level than most of Klemmer's albums. 

This is the best-sounding version. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/touch-mw0000204922

Personnel: John Klemmer (vocals, flute, tenor saxophone, electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano); David Batteau (vocals); Mitch Holder (acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Larry Carlton (acoustic guitar); Dave Grusin (electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Chuck Domanico, Chuck Rainey (electric bass); Harvey Mason, Sr. , John Guerin (drums); Joe Porcaro, Emil Richards (percussion).

Touch

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Larry Carlton - 2 albums: Collection / Collection Vol 2

Album: Collection
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:46
Size: 141.4 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[5:40] 1. Small Town Girl
[5:47] 2. Smiles And Smiles To Go
[4:57] 3. Minute By Minute
[5:09] 4. For Heaven's Sake
[5:19] 5. Nite Crawler
[5:24] 6. Blues For T.J
[5:05] 7. 10 P.M
[4:34] 8. Sleepwalk
[4:08] 9. Tequila
[4:33] 10. Bubble Shuffle
[5:22] 11. Hello Tomorrow
[5:43] 12. High Steppin'

Larry Carlton is one of the few great guitarists whose style is so distinctive that you recognise it the moment you hear it. His smooth, expressive tone is what many guitarists can only dream of coming close to. He is also probably one of the most requested session musicians ever. His early work with Steely Dan was just brilliant and here on this disc, although you don't get the Steely Dan stuff, you get a very good representation of his first 12 years in the business.

As is expected of a GRP recording, the sound quality is excellent coming from a digital master and there are two never before released recordings as well. The best track is "Sleepwalk" which shows you just what great phrasing the guy has, probably one of the hardest things for any musician to achieve is good phrasing and LC achieves this with ease. A brilliant musician and a great disc! ~Frederick Baptist

Collection

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Album: Collection Volume 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:37
Size: 129.6 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[5:37] 1. Osaka Cool
[4:22] 2. Heart To Heart
[5:16] 3. March Of The Jazz Angels
[5:05] 4. Honey Samba
[5:30] 5. Pure Delight
[5:28] 6. Ridin' The Treasure
[4:16] 7. Those Eyes
[6:16] 8. Lots About Nothin'
[4:43] 9. Farm Jazz
[5:12] 10. The Gift
[4:47] 11. Remembering J.P

It's cool. It's upbeat. It's danceable. It's the much accomplished Larry Carlton's Collection Volume 2, gathering the cream from his releases The Gift, Kid Gloves, Discovery, On Solid Ground, Alone / But Never Alone, and Larry & Lee (that would be Ritenour).

Carlton is a superb guitarist. His phrasing is impeccable, his ear for melody sound. His competent brand of cool collected-ness is no doubt what attracted the ear of Steely Dan, who had Carlton in now and again to take care of the fretwork. One chief difference is that Steely Dan had a sound, a readily identifiable style. Carlton's playing is faultless, but these tracks seem to melt into one another without much to distinguish them. Moreover, after listening to this disc I'm still not entirely sure what Larry Carlton has to say. I'm not sure who he is — despite his virtuoso chops, much of this music could have been made by any number of smooth jazzmen. Of course, that may be all Mr. Carlton is after. He is notably effective on "Honey Samba," touching on "The Gift," delicately precise on "Pure Delight," and charming on "Farm Jazz," which does sound a little different (in a chugging faux -hillbilly direction) from the rest of the fare.

Guest stars on this compilation include Kirk Whalum, who contributes some standard smooth-fusionary licks and a few memorable phrases, especially on "March of the Jazz Angels," which began by reminding me of the Seventies pop hit "How Long Has This Been Going On?" Larry Carlton is a virtuoso, but is never flashy for its own sake. Amid the synthesizer gauze of these tracks he himself plays brilliantly, and is, of course, the major attraction. ~Robert Spencer

Collection Volume 2

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Larry Carlton & Guests - All Star Jazz - The Jazz King

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:22
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:25)  1. Blue Day
(4:20)  2. Candlelight Blues
(5:54)  3. H.M. Blues
(3:53)  4. Love at Sundown
(4:31)  5. Lullaby
(5:45)  6. Magic Beams
(5:44)  7. When
(3:53)  8. Never Mind The Hungry Men's Blues
(7:21)  9. Love Light in My Heart
(4:31) 10. Lullaby (Instrumental Version)
(4:00) 11. Celebration

Like so many other Los Angeles studio musicians, guitarist and composer Larry Carlton was faced with a choice a number of years back: whether to go solo and develop a name for himself, or to continue the less risky, more lucrative existence of a session guitarist, making good money and recording with prominent musicians. Fortunately for fans of this eclectic guitarist, he chose the former, and has recorded under his own name for Warner Bros., MCA Records, GRP Records, and various other labels since 1978. Carlton's studio credits from the ''0s and early '80s include work with musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and literally dozens of others. Among his more notable projects as a session guitarist were Joni Mitchell's critically acclaimed Court and Spark album and Donald Fagen's Nightfly album. For much of the '70s, Carlton was active as a session guitarist, recording on up to 500 albums a year. Although he recorded a number of LPs under his own name as early as 1968's With a Little Help from My Friends (Uni) and 1973's Playing/Singing (Blue Thumb), he didn't land a major-label contract until 1978, when he signed with Warner Bros. Carlton began taking guitar lessons when he was six. His first professional gig was at a supper club in 1962. After hearing Joe Pass on the radio, he was inspired to play jazz and blues. Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel became important influences soon after he discovered the jazz guitar stylings of Pass. B.B. King and other blues guitarists had an impact on Carlton's style as well. He honed his guitar-playing skills in the clubs and studios of greater Los Angeles while he attended a local junior college and Long Beach State College for a year until the Vietnam War ended. Carlton toured with the Fifth Dimension in 1968 and began doing studio sessions in 1970. His early session work included studio dates with pop musicians like Vikki Carr, Andy Williams, and the Partridge Family. In 1971, he was asked to join the Crusaders shortly after they'd decided to drop the word "Jazz" from their name, and he remained with the group until 1976. In between tours with the Crusaders, he also did studio session work for hundreds of recordings in every genre. But it was while he with the Crusaders that he developed his signature, highly rhythmic, often bluesy style. His credits include performing on more than 100 gold albums. 

His theme music credits for TV and films include Against All Odds, Who's the Boss, and the theme for Hill Street Blues. The latter won a Grammy award in 1981 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Carlton delivered his self-titled debut for Warner Bros. in 1978, shortly after he was recognized for his groundbreaking guitar playing on Steely Dan's Royal Scam album. (Carlton contributed the memorable guitar solo on "Kid Charlemagne.'') He released four more albums for Warner Bros., Strikes Twice (1980), Sleepwalk (1981), Eight Times Up (1982), and the Grammy-nominated Friends (1983), before being dropped from the label. He continued studio session work and toured in between, emerging again in 1986 on MCA Records with an all-acoustic album, Discovery, which contained an instrumental remake of Michael McDonald's hit "Minute by Minute." The single won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1987. Carlton's live album Last Nite, released in 1987, got him a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance. While working on his next album for MCA, On Solid Ground, Carlton was the victim of random gun violence, and was shot in the throat by gun-wielding juveniles outside Room 335, his private studio near Burbank, California. The bullet shattered his vocal cords and caused significant nerve trauma, but through intensive therapy and a positive frame of mind, Carlton completed work on On Solid Ground in 1989. He formed Helping Innocent People (HIP), a non-profit group to aid victims of random gun violence. Despite the tragedy foisted on him in the late '80s after he was shot, with a long period of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Carlton continued his active recording and performing schedule over the next two decades, beginning with a number of albums during the '90s on the GRP label: 1992's Kid Gloves; 1993's Renegade Gentleman; 1995's Larry & Lee (with Lee Ritenour); and 1996's The Gift. Carlton also released the 1995 holiday collection Christmas at My House on MCA. And in 1997 he replaced Lee Ritenour in the popular, contemporary jazz outfit Fourplay, first appearing on the group's 4 album in 1998. 

The 2000s found Carlton as active as ever, recording live and in the studio as both leader and collaborator for a variety of labels. Two albums on Warner Bros. began the decade, Fingerprints including guest appearances by Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Kirk Whalum, and Vinnie Colaiuta  in 2000, and Deep Into It in 2001. A popular concert draw in Japan, Carlton could be heard as a collaborator on two live recordings from that island country during the decade, Live in Osaka (with Steve Lukather), issued in 2001 on the Favored Nations label, and Live in Tokyo (with Robben Ford) on 335 Records in 2007. Meanwhile, his albums as a leader continued, with Sapphire Blue and Fire Wire released by Bluebird/RCA in 2004 and 2005, respectively, and The Jazz King with Carlton leading an all-star band performing music he composed on commission to celebrate the 80th birthday and ascension to the throne of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej issued by Sony BMG in 2008. In 2009 Carlton appeared as guest guitarist on selected dates during Steely Dan's U.S. summer tour. Take Your Pick (with Tak Matsumoto) appeared in 2010. Always happy to meet with the press, Carlton has a sweet, peaceful personality, and listeners continue to hear it in his unique rhythmic and warm guitar chords and ringing guitar tones. Carlton was featured on and produced vocalist Michele Pillar's holiday album, I Hear Angels Calling, in 2011. Also appearing in 2011 was Larry Carlton Plays the Sound of Philadelphia, followed by Four Hands & a Heart, Vol. 1 in 2012. ~ Richard Skelly https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/larry-carlton/id29989

Personnel: Larry Carlton – guitars;  Abraham Laboriel – bass;  Earl Klugh – guitar;  Tom Scott – sax;  Nathan East – bass;  Abraham Laboriel, Jr. – drums;  Greg Mathieson – keyboards;  Michele Pillar – vocals;  Jeff Babko - keyboards

The Jazz King

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Jeff Lorber - Private Passion

Styles: Guitar Jazz, Fusion
Year: 1986
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:56
Size: 128,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. Facts of love (with Karyn White)
(4:17)  2. True Confessions
(4:11)  3. Jamaica
(4:16)  4. Back In Love
(5:21)  5. Kristen
(4:20)  6. Private Passion
(5:36)  7. Sand castles
(5:04)  8. Keep On Lovin'
(5:21)  9. Midnight Snack
(6:50) 10. Facts of Love [Actuality Mix]
(5:02) 11. Facts of Love[Dub]

Jeff Lorber reached his commercial peak with Private Passion, an album that has more to do with urban contemporary singing than it does with instrumental pop-jazz. Because it features R&B singers so prominently, Private Passion is a perfect example of what Lorber meant when, in 1998, he complained that the mid-'80s found him becoming "a sideman on my own records." In the 1990s, the keyboardist would return to giving himself a lot of solo space, but on Private Passion, Lorber the soloist/instrumentalist isn't the main attraction. The main attraction is the R&B singing of Michael Jeffries and Karyn White, whose memorable performance on the single "Facts of Love" not only put her on the map in the R&B market, but also did a lot to make this album the big seller it was. Private Passion does contain a few pleasant, if unremarkable, pop-jazz/NAC instrumentals. Freddie Hubbard takes a melodic flügelhorn solo on "Kristen," while guitarist Larry Carlton is employed on the Caribbean-flavored "Jamaica." But on the whole, Private Passion leaves jazz fans out in the cold, although it's often impressive and rewarding from an urban contemporary standpoint. ~ Alex Henderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/private-passion-mw0000188465

Jeff Lorber (Guitar, Synthesizer); Robbie Buchanan (Synthesizer); Larry Carlton (Guitar); Howard "Buzz" Feiten, Dan Huff (Guitar); Freddie Hubbard (Flugelhorn); George Howard (Sax soprano); Bunny Hull (Vocals); Michael Jeffries (Vocals, Vocals Background); Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken (Vocals Background); Brock Walsh (Drum Programming); Karyn White (Vocals).

Private Passion

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Larry Carlton - Plays The Sound Of Philadelphia

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:46
Size: 88.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:26] 1. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
[3:29] 2. Back Stabbers
[3:00] 3. If You Don't Know Me By Now
[3:27] 4. Drownin' In The Sea Of Love
[3:31] 5. I'll Be Around
[4:54] 6. You Make Me Feel Brand New
[3:22] 7. Bad Luck
[3:03] 8. Never Give You Up
[3:47] 9. Mama Can't Buy You Love
[3:02] 10. Only The Strong Survive
[2:40] 11. Mighty Love

Larry Carlton: guitar; Tony Desare: piano; Paul Shaffer: organ; Tommy Byrnes: rhythm guitar; Christopher Li'Nard Jackson: bass; Andrea Valentini: drums; Vic Stevens: percussion; Bill Labounty: vocals; Carla Benson: background vocals; Charlene Holloway: background vocals; Mark Douthit: saxophone; Darcy Hepner: baritone saxophone; Steve Guttman: first trumpet; Nick Marchione: trumpet; Dale Kirkland: trombone; Chris Komer: French horn.

Regardless of context, guitarist Larry Carlton has built a reputation as one of the tastiest guitarists around, whether he's supporting singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell, jazz/pop hybrid Steely Dan or soulful jazz/funksters The Crusaders. His own records, while always accessible—at times, crossing the line into smooth jazz territory—demonstrate a distinctive blend of sweet and gritty tone, bluesy soulfulness, and plenty of jazz chops, often surfacing in the most unexpected places. Live in Tokyo With Special Guest Robben Ford (335 Records, 2009), was harder-hitting than usual, suggesting that though Carlton (and Ford) chooses easier-on-the-ears contexts, he never sacrifices the core qualities that make him worth scoping out.

Plays the Sound of Philadelphia is Carlton's homage to the songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who were responsible for a seemingly endless string of soul/R&B hits in the 1960s and '70s. The songwriting/production duo, responsible for massive hits by artists including The O'Jays ("Backstabber"), Jerry Butler ("Only the Strong Survive"), Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me By Now") and Joe Simon ("Drownin' in the Sea of Love"), built a sound that, ultimately, became directly associated with the town they called home.

Rather than taking these iconic songs and stretching them out for extended soloing, Carlton keeps them short—radio-friendly, and single-length, just as they were back in the day. A couple of background vocalists deliver familiar choruses throughout as a backdrop for Carlton's ever-perfect tonal and melodic choices, and Bill Labounty sings lead on a couple tunes, including the bright "Drowning in the Sea of Love" and anthemic "Only the Strong Survive," these reverent arrangements never stretching far from their original sources. Six horns drives a five-piece rhythm section that includes, along with pianist/arranger Tony DeSare, Late Show with David Letterman stalwart, Paul Shaffer, on organ.

But, at the end of the day, with a collection of songs near-Jungian in their familiarity, and terrific charts from DeSare and trumpeter Steve Guttman, it's Carlton's visceral tone and ability to get to the heart of each song in an unfailingly personal way that make this 11-song set, at just under forty minutes, a thoroughly appealing look back, for those who miss the days when The Sound of Philadelphia ruled the airwaves. All the while, Carlton's broader harmonic knowledge bolsters his chordal work on "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"—his warm, clean tone and octave-style playing clearly referencing Wes Montgomery—while at the end of the more up-tempo "Back Stabber," Carlton combines bluesy bends with the barest hint of bebop sensibility.

And that's the beauty of Plays The Sound of Philadelphia, which also comes with a bonus "Making of" DVD. As much as this fits more in the adult contemporary category than jazz, Carlton peppers the session with plenty of markers that make clear his jazz roots remain an undercurrent beneath everything to which he sets his mind. It may not be edgy or forward-thinking, but it grooves to its sources with plenty of booty-shaking soul, all the while providing the ever-tasteful Carlton with plenty of room to deliver. And deliver he does, from start to finish. ~John Kelman

Plays The Sound Of Philadelphia

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Laurie Wheeler & Nash De Ville - Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:03
Size: 98.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz vocals
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[3:36] 1. Jeanie
[5:02] 2. Lil' Darlin
[2:35] 3. The Glow Worm
[2:55] 4. I Like To Riff
[3:30] 5. Centerpiece
[3:18] 6. You Can Depend On Me
[4:03] 7. Down For The Count
[2:52] 8. That Cat Is High
[3:54] 9. Tuxedo Junction
[2:35] 10. Gone
[6:19] 11. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[2:18] 12. Choo Choo Ch'boogie

Laurie, with her jazz vocal trio Nash deVille, recreate Big Band swing classics, with an edge. Her professional jazz colleagues commonly refer to Laurie Wheeler as an instrumentalist whose instrument happens to be her voice. Laurie has been ranked one of the World's Top 10 Female Jazz Vocalists 2 years in a row by the DownBeat Readers poll. She has performed with such notables as Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Michael McDonald, Louis Bellson, Steve Winwood, Buddy DeFranco, Charlie Byrd, and Bobby Peterson.

A veteran of jazz for over 20 years, Laurie has released 4 CD's – From the Land of Dreams, Twisted, Laurie Wheeler and Nash deVille, and Twilight. Her albums showcase tight vocal harmonies, be-bop scats, impressive arrangements, original song style, and her love and expertise of the art of vocalese. Laurie currently calls Nashville home, and aside from touring and writing songs for her next project, she dedicates much of her time helping young, aspiring musicians develop their talents.

Things Ain't What They Used To Be

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Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton - Larry & Lee

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:35
Size: 140,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:02)  1. Crosstown Kids
(6:25)  2. Low Steppin'
(5:48)  3. L.A. Underground
(5:01)  4. Closed Door Jam
(4:45)  5. After the Rain
(4:48)  6. Remembering J.P.
(5:24)  7. Fun in the Dark
(6:16)  8. Lots about Nothin'
(4:55)  9. Take That
(6:12) 10. Up and Adam
(5:54) 11. Reflection of a Guitar Player

Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour have had parallel careers, but this CD is their first joint meeting on record. The two guitarists complement each other well and there are hints of Wes Montgomery along with a tribute to Joe Pass ("Remembering J.P."), but the songs (all of them their originals) are little more than rhythmic grooves most of the time with the usual fadeouts. The consistently lightweight music is reasonably pleasing but never too stimulating.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/larry-lee-mw0000172045

Personnel:  Lee Ritenour (organ, synthesizer, guitar, bass, programming), Larry Carlton (keyboards, guitar), Larry Williams (tenor saxophone, synthesizer), Jerry Hey, Gary Grant (trumpet, flugelhorn), Bill Reichenbach (trombone), Greg Phillinganes, Dave Witham, Rick Jackson (keyboards), Melvin Davis (bass), Omar Hakim, Harvey Mason (drums), Cassio Duarte (percussion).

Larry & Lee

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Larry Carlton - The Best Of Larry Carlton

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 53:45

Size: 123.1 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 2006

Art: Front

[5:42] 1. Smiles And Smiles To Go

[5:44] 2. High Steppin'

[4:30] 3. Sleepwalk

[4:53] 4. Minute By Minute

[6:18] 5. Knock On Wood

[5:19] 6. Hello Tomorrow

[6:15] 7. Emotions Wound Us So

[4:02] 8. Layla

[6:34] 9. The Waffer

[4:23] 10. Shop 'till You Drop

Larry Carlton’s own musical story began in Southern California. He picked up his first guitar when he was only six years old. He was introduced to jazz in junior high school after hearing The Gerald Wilson Big Band album, Moment of Truth, with guitarist Joe Pass. Larry then became interested in Barney Kessel, Wes Montgornery and the legendary blues guitarist B.B. King. Saxophonist John Coltrane was also a major influence on Carlton, beginning with Coltrane’s 1962 classic Ballads.

withlittlehelpfromfriends.jpgIn 1968 he recorded his first LP, With A Little Help From My Friends (Uni). The enthusiastic industry response garnered him a place among jingle singers The Going Thing, recording on camera and radio commercials for Ford. Mid-season in his second year, he segued to Musical Director for Mrs. Alphabet, an Emmy-nominated children’s show on the same network. It was here that Carlton showcased his acting skills, performing as the show’s co-star, "Larry Guitar."

During his tenure with The Crusaders (through 1976), Carlton performed on 13 of their albums, often contributing material. In 1973, Carlton released his second solo project, SinginglPlaying, on Blue Thumb Records ­ aptly titled, as he not only played guitar, but also performed vocals on eight tracks. Carlton’s demand as a session player was now at its zenith, he was constantly featured with stars from every imaginable genre, ranging from Sammy Davis, Jr., and Herb Alpert to Quincy Jones, Paul Anka, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Jerry Garcia and Dolly Parton. At the same time, he was still performing more than 50 dates a year with The Crusaders.

As his association with the Crusaders began to draw to a close, Carlton signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1977. Between ’78 and ’84, Larry recorded six solo albums for Warner Bros. Records: Mr. 335: Live In Japan, Friends; Eight Times Up; Sleep Walk; Strikes Twice; Larry Carlton. The latter self-titled album was released hot on the heels of his debut session with rock supergroup Steely Dan. Rolling Stone magazine lists Carlton’s tasty ascent on Steely Dan’s Kid Charlemagne as one of the three best guitar licks in rock music.

The Best Of Larry Carlton

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Various - At Last: The Blues Ballads

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 68:25

Size: 156.6 MB

Styles: Blues/Jazz vocals

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Mighty Mo Rodgers - Have You Seen The American Dream

[2:57] 2. Marlena Shaw - Anyone Can Move A Mountain

[4:15] 3. Nina Simone - Don't Explain

[2:58] 4. Etta James - At Last

[7:40] 5. James Brown - (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons

[4:43] 6. Susan Tedeschi - Lord Protect My Child

[4:36] 7. Labelle - Miss Otis Regrets

[6:01] 8. Larry Carlton - Cold Day In Hell

[3:04] 9. Peggy Lee - Black Coffee

[3:04] 10. Queen Latifah - I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl

[7:32] 11. Robben Ford - Life Song

[6:03] 12. Diane Schuur - Someone To Love

[4:52] 13. Lizz Wright - I Idolize You

[4:14] 14. Nina Hagen - What It Is

[2:36] 15. Dinah Washington - A Bad Case Of The Blues

The term blues ballad is used to refer to a specific form of popular music which fused Anglo-American and Afro-American styles from the late 19th century onwards. Early versions combined elements of the European influenced "native American ballad" with the forms of African American music. From the 20th century on it was also used to refer to a slow tempo, often sentimental song in a blues style.

At Last: The Blues Ballads

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