Customer Reviews

Fingerprints

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have never been this compelled to write a review for a CD before. Fingerprint's is by far the best jazz album I've heard by a solo artist. This CD is hot from start to finish- there are absolutely no "filler" songs. Plus, it sets the mood for positive contemplation- you'll love it for that alone.

Play this CD and imagine yourself with a drink in hand looking out over a coastal sunset with the person of your dreams.

O.k.- I might sound a little corny, but that's where the comparison ends. Fingertips is a must have!

Thanks Larry

Chris Perera NYC

I've been moved to write a review of this cd after reading some of the negative comments by other so-called Carlton fans.In my opinion this truly is a 5 star cd by one of the best jazz guitarists in the world.
Yes,it is smooth jazz and he is catering for that audience but so what? The playing on this cd is relaxed and inspired.There isn't a wrong note or bad phrase on the entire cd.Lazy Susan is my particular favourite track because of the tasty and extremely lyrical solo in the middle of it.

When I first heard this cd I was slightly disappointed with a couple of the other tracks,like All thru the night and Slave song,finding them too smooth and bland,but repeated listenings have changed that!!Each time I listen to this cd I hear something new,which makes me want listen even more!!!
I have several of Larry's cd's and I intend to buy his entire catalogue.
Larry is a consumate artist who can effortlessly play in a varied mix of styles and genres from jazz to blues and country to rock.To all of the negative reviewers I say if you don't like Larry's present style, then don't listen!! There are plenty more of us true fans who will.Just keep playing the old albums and stop whinning!!!

We all know Larry Carlton can play anything in any style. That's what studio guitarists do and Larry is one of the best ever. That said, as smooth jazz goes, I don't forsee how anybody could create a better album. The title track alone is worth the purchase price; the song, especially the guitar playing, is just so darn MUSICAL!. My album doesn't have Marium's whatever on the third track, rather it has The Storyteller, which is also excellent. No this is not Kid Charlemagne, but it is smooth jazz guitar like nobody else can play it. And in that respect, Larry has outdone himself again.

I bought Larry's "Last Night" album back in the eighties and loved it. But, then I made the mistake of forgetting Larry for most of the nineties...until "Fingerprints". (What can I say?...I was young.) This is one of the finest albums by one of the finest jazz guitarists around. Over and over and over again is what it does in my CD player. Also...kudos to Vince Gill on track #9. Let's all hope together that Vince crosses over to instrumental music completely someday. The guitar is where your true voice is Vince. I'm sure Larry will agree...

I was playing this over the bank holiday weekend and found myself really enjoying it. I picked it up in a second-hand music store while visiting a friend in Chicago back in 2000 and to be honest, though I knew of Carlton and his skills as a jazz guitarist and had quite a number of his CDs as a solo artiste, as a member of The Crusaders and as a member of Fourplay, I was actually drawn to pick it up (without even giving it a listen) by the beautifully psychedelic artistry on the front cover.

In the beginning, only two tracks interested me: the southern-flavoured "Lazy Susan" and the brilliant and appropriately titled closing ballad "Crying Hands" (with sensitive keyboard contributions by Matt Rollings and Rick Jackson). I could play these two repeatedly all day and all night. But as time went on and the more I listened, the more I began to like other tracks. Songs like "'Til I Hurt You", which features the vocals of Michael MacDonald (who is always good for the ears as far as I'm concerned); "Gracias", an acoustic guitar duet with Vince Gill; the funky bass line-driven "Silky Smooth", featuring saxophone by Steve Cole; "The Storyteller" (another acoustic guitar track); and the snazzy, swirly, slow-jam number, "Chicks With Kickstands", which features an interesting saxophone performance from smooth jazz maestro, Kirk Whalum. Some of the tracks on the album (6/10) are produced by Carlton himself, with a few (4/10) produced by Paul Brown and though I tend to avoid stuff he's involved with like the plague, he doesn't do too badly here.

Jazz sophisticates like my good friend André probably wouldn't touch this with a bargepole (Ha! I'm ahead of you this time, buddy!) and while one or two of the songs are entirely skippable, it's actually very good in places. It's nice cool jazz, just brushing against the borders of smooth and for people who don't want anything too taxing or perhaps, (while not meaning to sound patronising), for people thinking of dipping their toe into jazz guitar for the first time, I think this would be ideal. Fans of folk like George Benson, Lee Ritenour or Peter White might also like it.

For me, while it's not Pat Metheny, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Nguyên Lê or even Mike Stern, I still find it enjoyable listening. I'd recommend it unhesitatingly.

I love this album. It's not usually the type of jazz that I listen to, but from now on, I shall listen to smooth jazz more often. I had never heard of Larry Carlton, until I heard the song "Fingerprints" on the radio and loved it. I bought this album, and I have to say, I love every track. Although on my album I don't have the 3rd track listed here "Marium's theme". Instead I have "The Storyteller" which I think is one of the best on the album. I don't know why there should be 2 different versions of the same album. It was also nice to see that Vince Gill, one of my favourite country artists, does a guitar duet with Larry on "Gracias", track 9. It's good when artists can stretch their boundaries, and show versatility. Larry also wrote most of the songs on this album, and is a brilliant jazz guitarist. Recommended!

It's amazing how a real "Music Master" like Larry could get even better with time and "Fingerprints" is a good signal about that. His ability to compose and his performance on guitar has shown again, why he is considered one of the best jazz players actually. All the tracks are pretty good but I must say that "Crying Hands" is out of reality and discovers Larry's sensibility to express something deep and untouchably beautiful. There is also a great surprise when hearing Michael McDonald voice on one track. This is an album to hear hundred times and you'll never get bored of it....

I have been a great fan of LC since the mid 70's and this CD is really excellent. LC's CDs of the mid 80's and 90's were OK but not great. This one is a true return to form and specially much more mature.Tracks like Fingerprints, All thru night, if everyday were Christmas are brilliant. LC is a cut above the other Smooth Jazz artits

Alright, I've been a fan of this guy for a long time and I'm not going to critisize the corpus of work the man has established because the larger part has kept me interested for many years. But this!?! Why, it's apostasy!!!

This is devoid of the Larry Carlton that I know; this is nothing more than a pushed-out album pressed in the interests of money. There is nothing new or creative here; no driving passion. Imagine Larry Carlton using a walker and you've got it!

I'm listening to a Shakti album, the latest, as I write this. I'm struck by how this association of musicians can continue to produce great material year after year while well established musicians also, like Al DiMeola, Robin Trower, Larry Carlton, and others feel that resting on their laurels is good enough to sell an album. Evidently these people have forgotten that fusion is a musicians music.

Speaking from the musicians category, at least for myself, this album is appalling. Take a listen sometime to "Stanley Clarke and Friends: Live at the Greek", and see if you can recognize any similarity between this "Fingerprints" BS and the real thing. But if you have an attraction to dumbed-down virtuosity, perhaps this album might work for you. For me, the CD has long since become a drink coaster.

Larry Carlton is on the short list of my favorite guitarists. It wasn't surprising that I purchased "Fingerprints" shortly after it was first released, and have enjoyed it immensely over the years. Carlton's phrasing is simple, yet powerful as he knows exactly what to play. Since recovering from a bullet in the neck, Carlton's playing has become amazing. "Fingerprints" is no different. Carlton takes us through a jazz-laden exploration of the guitar.

The smooth "Slave Song" is beautifully done. His soloing is crisp, yet not overloaded with too many notes. He steps back to let Kirk Whalum share in the soloing. For "The Storyteller" Carlton is able to take a theme and change it a little each time to make it interesting. His guitar stands out with slow, meaningful lines taking the solo to astral heights picking up the picking before falling back and letting Whalum have a go at it. Carlton and Whalum work well together, their sounds very complementary. Michael McDonald lends his voice for "'Til I Hurt You" while Carlton makes his guitar cry in the background. "Gracias" pairs Carlton with Vince Gill for a Latin-flavored jazz piece. Both guitarist play off each other well, and is a fun song with lots of octave slides - a little Wes Montgomery flare. Carlton's sound and style come together on "Crying Hands," the perfect song to end the album on.

Carlton has come a long way over the years, playing a variety of genres. Although he is rooted in smooth jazz now, his playing is at the top of his game. If you like smooth jazz, this is definitely one to add to your collection, and if you're a guitar player, this is something worth listening to.