Krantz Carlock Lefebvre

Wayne Krantz, Tim Lefebvre, Keith Carlock | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Abstract Logix
• ASIN: B0027LZ4HE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,331 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The boldly inventive improvisations of maverick guitarist Wayne Krantz have long held a fascination for fans of dynamic, uncompromised music. Ex-Sideman with Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham and many others, Krantz has focused on live performance for nearly two decades, holding down a residency at New York City's 55 Bar.  Now, with Krantz Carlock Lefebvre, his first album for the hip, artist friendly music label Abstract Logix, he is returning to a recording studio to document his own music for the first time in over fifteen years.

Krantz Carlock Lefebvre features Krantz as one-third of a longstanding trio that also includes virtuoso drummer Keith Carlock (Sting, Steely Dan, James Taylor) and bassist extraordinaire Tim Lefebvre (Chris Botti, Uri Caine), which was first convened in 1997.

'Giving this band a voice in the context of a studio is a big deal for us,' Krantz says.  'Everything we've ever released together has been some kind of live album. Now we have the clarity and concision of the studio along for the ride.' Cut live in the studio and then augmented by overdubs, the result is Krantz's most personal statement yet, more strongly rooted in composition while still rich with the improvisational nuances that make his live performances so riveting.

In 1996 he toured around the world with the revived Steely Dan, which he regards as an improvisational challenge that further sharpened his time-feel and sense of groove. 'I loved it,' he said of the experience, 'but at the end of the day it's a sideman gig, and as great as it was, it still can't compare to what I have with my own band.'

That thrill - the sound of three musicians both in synch and unafraid to challenge one another - is captured with gripping immediacy on Krantz Carlock Lefebvre, an album that handily defies categorization.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wayne Krantz Delivers the Guitar Record of the Year, August 18, 2009

By 

Music Fan "Music always" (California,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (Audio CD)

Krantz Carlock Lefebvre is undoubtedly one of the finest records that I have heard in a long time. This is a stellar trio performing music that defies all categorization. Wayne is known to be always on the cutting edge of music, uncompromising, bold and truly musical. There are tunes on this album that you can listen to in a club or in the confines of a very high end stereo system. There is a certain amount of warmth in the recording and the music that can be heard by listening to the disc or FLAC files. I would not recommend Mp3s.
The tone, the percussive nature of his playing, his relentless pursuit for new sounds can be all heard on KCL. For Krantz fans who have listened and enjoyed his previous albums, you will love this even more... and for people who are discovering Wayne Krantz for the first time, I am jealous. Its a magical feeling to discover an artist like Wayne Krantz. Keith Carlock who is one of most outstanding drummer is absolutely on fire. Hear him with Rudder. My nod to Tim Lefebvre for being so musical and just solid support with Keith. A five star recording in book . Fans of Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, PoP music, Wilco, Phish, Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin should all equally enjoy this well crafted piece of work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pay Attention, October 23, 2009

By 

Roy-D - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (Audio CD)

These guys are monsters.
Creativity? Just maybe a little.
This is a masterpiece or as close as you can get.

Wayne,
I put this CD right there with Extrapolation.
Of course it's nothing like it really but for me it's on that kind of artistic level.
It does to me what Extrapolation did to me.
That was 40 years ago but your band hits me the same way.
It must be so fun to play the way you guys play.
Best regards,Roy

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wayne Krantz Music, August 24, 2009

By 

Howard S. Finkel (MAPLEWOOD, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (Audio CD)

I first saw Wayne Krantz a couple of years ago at the tiny 55 Bar in the Village, I was blown away that someone with such an original voice and an equally powerful band was playing such a small club. Most of Wayne's previous records were live affairs with a very basic recording set-up (a lot are just one mic in the club). I love all of this guys work but on this recording he took a little time, brought his mighty trio into a studio and the results are impressive. You can really hear what each of these monster players are doing and they went for a great groove over a show-boazting chops fest (Make no mistake however, Krantz, Carlock and Lefebvre have chops that mere mortals only dream of). This isn't strictly jazz and it's not strictly rock, the only way I can describe it is, Wayne Krantz music; it's mighty funky, adventerous and grooves from start to finish. In my opinion this is one of the best instrumental guitar records (well almost, there are a few vocals) since Jeff Beck's, "Blow by Blow" . Buy this recording and catch these guys ASAP; something tells me that small clubs may not loom large in these masters future.