Customer Reviews

Gift

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Larry Carlton has been putting out smooth jazz records long before the term "smooth jazz" was coined. Probably the world's most prolific studio guitarist, Carlton's records have been, for the most part, slickly-produced affairs containing at least a two or three catchy originals, a combination that has earned him a couple of Grammies. The problem is, it's hard to listen to an LC song for the first time and know for certain that it's him. Records like "The Gift" try so hard to please a wide audience that he tends to dilute his talents to the lowest common denominator, probably a curse for a sessionist who made a good living adapting his style for what each song calls for instead of vice versa.

Fans from the seventies and early-eighties period will be hard-pressed to find his old trademark Gibson ES335 sound here, but I'm pretty sure he took it out of the attic for "My Old Town", with a solo lifted almost straight out of the old Crusaders tune "Lillies of the Nile". A handful of other songs like "Osaka Cool" and "Shop 'Till You Drop" are pretty good, too, but nothing that a whole lot of other smooth jazzers don't put out these days, either.

If you're simply just into this kind of "jazz", you surely won't be disappointed. If you're more interested in hearing LC play at his best, try "Renegade Gentleman".

The "Gift" is exactly that! For the easy listening enthusiast this is as classic a work as you will find. From the title cut to the "fab" Fab Four rework(Things we said today),featuring the lovely Michelle Pillar Carlton, This album will take you from calm escapes to the spine chilling riffs LC is legendary for. A must have for the truly complete Jazz collection. Thanks Larry!

... What a find!
Carlton out does himself with great acoustic and electric guitar playing. Joined by studio veterans Greg Bissonette on drums, Larry Kimpel on bass, Rick Jackson on keyboards and jazz great Kirk Whalum on saxophone, Carlton and company put together 10 amazing tracks.
The former studio wiz plays fluently and skillfully on this 1996 release. He does an excellent rendition of the Beatles' "Things We Said Today" accompanied by his wife, Michele Pillar Carlton on vocals. It's beautifully done just like the whole disc.
Again thanks to the person who let this treasure go. ...

This has more variety than any of his other cd's. It creates a "good feeling" that's hard to describe - and others who listened to my copy said the same thing. Even those who aren't particularly into jazz liked it. Michele adds alot to the album. I'd hope she's featured on some of his new discs.

Ridin ' the treasure finds to Larry in a special mood that reminds us to Bela Fleck Goin ' nowhere is a fresh smooth piece. The most treasured songs in this album are The Gift and Shop 'till you drop.
An album that testifies once more the interpretative quality of this famed guitarist.

After hearing this recording. I fell in love with it! I think that Michele featured on the recording is "Super Taste"! (like the other reviewer wrote: I hope that she is featured on some of the other cd's)!
Ok, back to the recording. This recording is alittle different than most of Larry Carlton's work. I mean you can tell that its done well and that it is Larry, but I feel that he put more into all of the songs featured on this recording. If you don't have this recording yet, go get it and add it to your collection of Larry Carlton. You won't be sorry that you did, because you will make it a point to play it several times for many several reasons! Enjoy!

For many years I have been Larry's biggest fan. Actually, I've turned many of my friends, fellow musicians into him. His Sleepwalk, Strikes Twice were listened by me millions times over and over again.
His solos on Steely Dan's and Fagen's albums are classics. I saw LC live at least 5-7 times, including with S.Lucather. Last time I saw him in BBKing's in NY, playing Sapphire blue. And let me tell you - it was something.
But I remember the day when I bought his Gift as a Xmas gift for myself. There are no words to describe my disappointment. Totally dead, meaningless, boring. Once in a while I keep returning to this 'masterpiece' in hope that my past feelings were wrong. No, people. It is the same, simply unbearable.
I remember seeing Larry life in Blue Note around the time of Gift release. First set mostly he was playing songs from Gift and of course some of his classics. Guys, he was bored to death promoting it. Muzak. The guy, who is the hottest guitarist ever, plays muzak. What a shame. I had a chance to stay for the second set. And I was right. It was real Larry Carlton. After the brake he returned to the stage angry, furious, passionate. He played the blues like he was playing his last song ever.
Anyway, it's a long story.
Do not buy Gift.
Buy everything but Gift.
Sorry, Larry.
It is because I love you so much.
Alex Gerasimovich.