Fifteenth Plectrum Podcast - Fusion by Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton is a jazz guitarist dividing his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with more popular bands. Over his career Carlton has won three Grammys for his performances and compositions. His influences are the likes of Barney Kessel and BB.King (that's a pure jazz guitarist and a pure Blues guitarist) - which explains his versatility. He also replaced Lee Ritenour when he left the band Fourplay. For me Carlton is in the same league as Larry Coryell and Lee Ritenour though maybe a little less known than the former. Nonetheless he is a really good guitarist as you will see from this podcast.

Podcast description:

TRACK 1: Remembering J.P. - From Larry and Lee (1995). This is a collaboration album, already mentioned in a previous podcast dedicated to Lee Ritenour. One can hardly tell who is playing when on this typically fusion piece, as both Larry and Lee adopt such a very similar style here.

TRACK 2: Last Night. - From Last Night (Live 1986). A winning combination - Larry Carlton with the Yellojackets! I was lucky to see the Yellowjackets (minus Larry Carlton) play in Malta at the Malta Jazz Festival and was really impressed. This is a really nice track - smooth easy-listening fusion at its best. Enjoy.

TRACK 3: Layla. - From On Solid Ground (1989). Just to demonstrate Larry's versatility and influences I opted to include this track - Layla, orginally a Derek and the Dominoes song with Eric Clapton on lead guitar! As you might imagine it is a rock song and it is intended to have vocals but Larry Carlton manages to play it so well and without any vocals - a really great rendition.

Enjoy



Check out Larry Carlton with Lee Ritenour in action:


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