Customer Reviews

Late Night Guitar

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

put on "Late Night Guitar," Earl Klugh's masterpiece, to set the mood off right. Songs like "Tenderly," "Mona Lisa," "Like a Lover," and my favorite, "I'll Never Say Goodbye (The Promise)" put one in a state of pure relaxation and a desire to be with the one you love. Earl's playing is so melodic and filled with so much emotion, you're completely taken in by his artistry. From first song to last, you're hooked. The flow of this CD is simply beautiful. One of my favorite periods in Jazz is the '70's and some of the best artists (Noel Pointer, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn to name a few)who came out of that era of Jazz-Fusion continue to be my favorites. Earl is one of them. I've got a lot of his work and this is what I consider a classic. A must have for Earl Klugh fans.

The relaxed and sensuous playing of Earl Klugh and friends is so intoxicating you really get lost -- time drifts by and you pour another glass of wine. This record does a lot of things all at once -- it evokes a simpler time, with its inclusion of so many standards, played with sweetness and even sorrow, and it has a fresh, breezy air about it, that makes it addictive. Of all of the perfectly realized arrangements, my personal favorite is LIKE A LOVER, which is the most beautiful single instrumental track I own. I have fallen in love to it, broken up to it, regained hope to it, given it to my mother on Mother's Day, and use it as the soundtrack to the many, many places in the world I have been fortunate enough to go. If I were lucky enough to have my own heart's soundtrack at the moments when I FELT the most, it would be this record.

If you are a music fan who believes that music can lift you up from the depths of despair to emotional highs of euphoria, this is one CD you should not miss."Like a Lover" is sad and nostalgic, yet it soars to the point of anchoring you among the clouds. As the title suggests, this should be played late at night or in the wee hours, when the mind and the spirit is uncluttered. Close your eyes, and let Klugh's smooth melodies soothe your tired and weary mind.

I was introduced to Earl Klugh music by a friend way back in early '80s. Since then I have followed his recording career because of my love for guitar music. My late father owned a number of LPs of Chet Atkins, hence, my great appreciation for guitar music. The greatest influence in Earl Klugh's life is Chet Atkins, and I believe that he is as equally talented and creative as his idol.

I have collected some of the albums he recorded, "Living Inside Your Love," "Magic In Your Eyes," "Finger Paintings," "Heart String," "One On One" (with Bob James), "Sounds And Visions, Volume 2," "The Best of Earl Klugh - Vol. 2 (CD) "Late Night Guitar" (CD) and "Solo Guitar" (CD). This is the best Earl Klugh CD I own, next to "Solo Guitar." It has excellent material and impeccably interpreted by one of the greatest acoustic guitarists of all time, from the initial track Jerome Kern's "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" to the last track "I'll Never Say Goodbye." It's just perfect for easy listening and relaxation.

My personal favorites aside from the first track include "Like A Lover," "Triste," "Tenderly," "Two For The Road," "Jamaica Farewell," and Paul Williams' "Nice To Be Around."

Highly recommended! I guarantee it will be a lifetime of listening enjoyment!

EK does a beautiful rendition of "I'll never say goodbye." Poignant listening. I would be so grateful to know whether this CD will again be available.

I was very glad to see this come out on CD, since my old cassette tape went south (just like all of them do eventually). This collection made me an Earl Klugh fan. Songs like "Jamaica Farewell" and "Mirabella" also got me more interested in acoustic guitar and learning to play it (albeit pretty raggedly). I would have added a few more Klugh gems to this collection, since it's rather short. But overall, for relaxing music, this is a fine CD.

This simple,laid back CD never fails to engage me emotionally. The choice of material along with the uncluttered arrangements are first class. While many others in the Klugh collection offer more energy, it's Late Night Guitar to which I return again and again. The recording quality is also excellent.

Heard the album at our favorite restaurant. The owner was familiar with the artist. We were only interested in one song, but the whole album is great, easy listening.

Back in 1981 I found myself on a merchant ship in Europe for 11 months. I quickly ran out of music and started noticing that the shops had a few pop albums (cassettes!) and a lot of Jazz albums. I talked to a few shipmates and asked, "If you're really a rock guitar listener, but had to buy a jazz cd that you might like/love, what would you get?" One of my shipmates said he was in my shoes a few years prior and that he would recommend Al Di Meola's Elegant Gypsy and, if I was open to acoustic guitar, to try Earl Klugh's Late Night Guitar.

I bought both and almost 30 years later they both remain Desert Island Albums for me, and are probably the best, most cohesive, albums either artist has done.

Late Night Guitar started me with familiar melodies like Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Mona Lisa, and Jamaica Farewell and then took me on a dreamlike journey that never faltered. By the section where Triste, MiraBella, and Two for the Road arrived...well... this is where the next level of listening kicked in for me. Pure bliss melodically, but also for the technical prowess...the little technique things, the subtlety, the choices are all exquisite. Sometimes I go to 2:34 in Two for the Road and take a two minute trip to guitar heaven. By the time he hits the big note at 3:38 you can't imagine anything more perfect. This is the place to start if you want a great romantic, smooth jazz, guitar album that satisfies both musically and technically. True Genius. Enjoy!

This is a CD to curl up with in front of a fireplace and a glass of wine.