High Contrast [Original recording remastered]

Gabor Szabo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1970
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B00007KMS5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,250 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Szabo & Womack burn together!, May 28, 2003

By 

J. Levinson (Media, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: High Contrast (Audio CD)

This unlikely collaboration with R&B star Bobby Womack is surprisingly successful as an instrumental smooth-jazz guitar session. Womack uncharacteristically takes no vocals, and proves himself a very competent and sympathetic rhythm guitarist. This album feature's Womack's original recording of his composition "Breezin'", which was a smash crossover hit for George Benson. Szabo interprets the melody in his staccato voice, his approach more restrained than Benson's, but captivating in it's own way. "Amazon" has a dark tropical feel. Wolfgang Melz plays solid yet interesting basslines, and his co-composition "Fingers" provides another fine vehicle for extended guitar improvisation. The finale, "I Remember When" features a well-arranged string section that serves as a fine foil for Szabo's take on the country-style melody.

Bobby Womack - Guitar (Electric)
Gabor Szabo - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Mark Levine - Piano
Wolfgang Melz - Bass
Phil Upchurch - Bass
Jim Keltner - Drums
Bruce Botnick - Engineer
Felix "Flaco" Falcon - Conga
Carmelo Garcia - Timbales, Tom-Tom, Tom-Tom
Rene Hall - String Arrangements
Tommy LiPuma - Producer

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth mind bending frets, December 26, 2006

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: High Contrast (Audio CD)

I believe this disc in many ways was ahead of the curve or one of the forerunners of a subgenre of jazz that is now known as smooth jazz. Recorded in 1971 most pop jazz was typically pop standards reworked into a jazz idiom; George Benson's recording of Beatles songs come to mind as well as Wes Montgomery. This disc maintains true jazz integrity with improvisation yet unveils the smooth side of jazz. It is actually quite an accomplished bit of interaction by soul-ballader-singer Bobby Womack(later known for a classic of smooth jazz entitled "What You Won't Do For Love)who does not sing here but rather plays electric guitar. The distinct fret work by Hungarian Gabor Szabo is hard to describe but he bends his notes in a gypsyesque-rock-jazz style that was definitely his own style. Once you here his work you will always be able to distinguish his style.The song made famous by George Benson but written by Bobby Womack, "Breezin"(later a smooth jazz monster hit)is a song you will want to here over and over. It is so pure and perfect and the interaction by Womack and Szabo is complete harmony on guitar. Another song that is very melodic is "Azure Blue" where the guitar work by Womack reminds me of George Benson at times but the Szabo twang interacts to create an element of foreign distinction. Four of the tracks are penned by Womack including "Just a Little Communication" that features more of the duo guitarists in sync."If You Don't Want My Love" is a breezy ballad that shifts tempo but always stays on track and during certain parts sounds like Wes Montgomery. This is original music that establishes a style and receipe that others would adhere to and capitalize from years later. This is an original smooth jazz disc with attitude before their was a genre.

5.0 out of 5 stars MUSIC OF HIGH CONTRAST, April 17, 2008

By 

K. Prousalis "papillon" (drama GREECE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: High Contrast (Audio CD)

It is not actually smooth jazz neither pop jazz but has tiny spots from both of these fields with a bluesy mix . A very pleasant listening indeed . GUITARIST Gabor Szabo plays in a very sentimental and romantic way in most of the compositions of the album keeping your attenion focused mainly in music .IF YOU DONT WANT MY LOVE excells .