Larry Carlton & Robben Ford

Larry Carlton & Robben Ford - Unplugged - 2013 - 335 Records

First ever acoustic performance recorded with Robben Ford! The New Morning club in Paris presents the incredible – and long awaited – pairing of two guitar giants for their first Unplugged show. Imagine: Larry Carlton and Special Guest Robben Ford, two legendary guitarists… one stage unplugged… a guitar lover’s dream! This unique pairing of two all-time great guitar legends delivers an unforgettable evening of dueling guitar solos and an uncompromising evening of The Blues performed the way it was meant to be. Nineteen-time GRAMMY NOMINEE, four-time GRAMMY WINNER and all-time guitar great, Larry 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 more than 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. Joining forces with Larry in Paris is Robben Ford who at 18 he was playing with the likes of Charlie Musselwhite, Jimmy Witherspoon, the L.A. Express with Tom Scott, George Harrison, and Joni Mitchell. He was a founding member of the Yellowjackets, then went on to tour with Miles Davis, Sadao Watanabe, and Little Feat. In 1992 he returned to his roots: the blues – a genre he masters in most exquisite grand style. © 335 Records http://335records.com/?page_id=33

This polished combination of smooth jazz, pop, rock, and fusion should be at the top of this year’s compulsory viewing of each guitar nerd on the planet. And I’m talking about rockers especially, because if you’re a rock fan looking for a first taste of jazz guitar, then this is it – an as painless an introduction as they come, presented in an easy-to-swallow, ever so slightly sweetened form. Session-man extraordinaire, guitar guru, and four-times Grammy laureate Larry Carlton – as expected — dominates the proceedings. Robben Ford’s displays of fantastic guitar chops are less extensive and less flashy, but show just how much a rhythm player of his caliber can influence a soloist. Mind you, Ford is a world-renowned lead player on his own right with a 45-year career under his belt and collaborations with artists ranging from Miles Davies to Joni Mitchell. As this release follows an earlier pairing of Carlton and Ford recorded in 2007 and titled Live in Tokyo, no wonder the two guitarists operate on exactly the same wavelength. An acoustic setting gives the show a more down-to-earth feel than its predecessor, but don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the set-up. Despite the apparent austerity of the two guitars, the bass, and the drums, this 100-minute performance serves up erudite musicianship managing to avoid predictability almost at every turn. The set list runs through Carlton’s oldies, an odd chestnut, and an occasional Ford number, but also finds place for fresh material. Standout “Cold Gold” is a new song by Carlton – a blues-inspired tune with a dash of lyrical jazz. Carlton’s first-class technique and his exquisite choice of notes turn a straightforward composition into a gem. Letting just enough disquiet seep through the restrained delivery he keeps the affair from getting too heavy while adding depth to please the philosophers and the poets among us. “Rio Samba” – by contrast – diverts the set into a bubbly Latin direction. Ford’s rhythm parts galvanize the proceedings while Carlton’s impro criss-corsses narratives without losing razor-sharp focus. A musically intense story told with few well-chosen notes becomes a lesson in putting approachability before the ego. Not to mention the moments where Carlton lets the rhythm section jump to the fore, varying the texture of the band’s sound with subtle aplomb. But it isn’t all about A-grade chops, clever comping, or making jazz accessible to any kind of audience while keeping the buffs on their toes. When “That Road” begins its bouncy harmonic roundabout you instantly appreciate the band’s elastic, finely sprung rhythm machinery. Where it really knocks you off your feet is when Carlton starts improvising over the seemingly simple chord progression, on the spot coming up with one faultless theme after another. The union of big ideas and nuanced detail rarely sounds so compelling, just like a pairing of a jazz whiz and a blues romantic. - By & © Alissa Ordabai - Senior Columnist © 2001 - 2014 HardrockHaven.net | All Rights Reserved http://hardrockhaven.net/online/2013/10/larry-carlton-and-robben-ford-unplugged-the-paris-concert-dvd-review/

If you know ANYTHING about the guitar, you must have at least half a dozen Larry Carlton recordings in your collection. Oh, they may not feature him as a leader, but he’s there on your Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell or Crusaders discs back in the stash. His style and sound is one of the true proofs of the existence of a benevolent and loving God-it glows as if it’s seen a burning bush. Here, he pulls up a chair with a kindred spirit of the Royal Order of the Axe, Robben Ford, and along with Claude Salmieri/dr and Fifi Chayeb/b, they have the time of their lives in front of an appreciative Parisian audience playing for the pure artistic pleasure of it. This one-disc workshop of how to play the guitar features the two gents picking and grinning through laid back porch music like “NM Blues 08” before the rhythm section joins in to settle into a sliding and slinky and downhearted “Cold Gold.” A hip and snappily percussive “Monty” and funky grooving “That Road” have the guys going back and forth like tap dancers out to show each other what they can do. They mix some rock into their blues on “Hand in Hand…” with Ford throwing in some patented easy gliding vocals.They make their strings beg for mercy after Ford moans through the lyrics on a riveting reading of “I Put a Spell on You” before a closing “Rio Samba” delivers rapid fire shots like a box of firecrackers served over a sizzling rhythm section. Guitar album of the year? Not a bad choice!!! - By & © George W. Harris • March 25, 2013 © 2014 Jazz Weekly. All Rights Reserved http://www.jazzweekly.com/2013/03/12-strings-of-joy-larry-carlton-robben-ford-unplugged/

Two modern day guitar legends play a sensational live set of jamming, and incredible duelling guitar solos. Recorded live at the New Morning Club in Paris. Stellar music and VHR by A.O.O.F.C [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 133 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. NM Blues 08 - Larry Carlton & Robben Ford 7:33
2. That Road - Robben Ford 8:55
3. Monty - Robben Ford 7:09
4. Cold Gold - Larry Carlton 7:04
5. Hand in Hand with the Blues - Robben Ford & Jill Freeman 4:58
6. Amen AC - Larry Carlton 6:33
7. I Put a Spell on You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins 6:24
8. Rio Samba - Larry Carlton 9:05

MUSICIANS

Robben Ford - Guitar, Vocals
Larry Carlton - Guitar
Fifi Chayeb - Bass
Claude Salmieri - Drums