Live in Tokyo With Special Guest Robben Ford [Import]

Larry Carlton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ais
• ASIN: B000NVL0AK
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,561 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. That Road

2. Burnable

3. Cold Gold

4. Rio Samba

5. Derrick's Blues

6. Two Bad

7. Talk to Your Daughter

Editorial Reviews

Features a performance from September 4 - 7 2006 at the Blue Note Tokyo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dumble Doublemint Twins Play the Blues, August 12, 2010

By 

John Palmer (Scarsdale, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live in Tokyo With Special Guest Robben Ford (Audio CD)

Larry and Robben go way back. They first worked wonderfully together as session guitarists on "Court and Spark" and "Hissing of the Summer Lawns," a couple of Joni Mitchell albums in the early 70's. Carlton was a member of the Crusaders and the original LA Express guitarist. Robben replaced him for the bulk of that band's work. Larry went on to play guitar with Steely Dan and features prominently on the "Royal Scam" and "Aja" albums. Robben went on to play with the Yellowjackets. Eventually, they both focussed on solo careers.

Larry and Robben are very much in the same stylistic bag as guitar players. They play very much the same guitar (Gibson)/amp (Dumble) combo. As such they have very similar tones. So, if you like one of these pickers and don't know the work of the other, you'll definitely like this disc: two mint Dumbles in one disc! In fact, that buyer is me: I'm a big Carlton fan and didn't know that much about Robben Ford. Since this is nominally a Larry Carlton disc, let me start with a review of his playing therein.

It is not an original observation of mine that Larry's jaw dropping solos back in the 70's have devolved to merely great today. I mean no disrespect in saying that: I'll always be a Larry fan. That said, this would be a 5 star disc if Larry had a little more of that 70's complete 335 jazz blues guitar slinger domination. However, every so often Larry clams some notes! The end of the world must be near! I feel badly writing this, but if you are a Larry fan, you should know this up front.

Robben, on the other hand, has gone from very good back in the 70's to a great player. I mean Robben just lays down those righteously tasty altered blues licks! Friendly as Larry and Robben are, when two guitarists get together on the same stage, you can't help but think of it as a "cutting contest." I have to say that in that respect Robben clearly comes out on top. Of course, Larry plays great as well, so ultimately I won because I bought the music! (I take no stars away because of this, by the way. There was no disgrace when Ali, my favorite, lost to Joe Frazier.)

Now, I am not a fan of either man's vocals. Larry stopped doing vocals back in the 70's. Robben, on the other hand, persists. ( Jimmy Vaughan says that a guitar player needs to be able to sing or have a van to carry the gear otherwise they'll get no gigs. So what do I know?) Suffice to say, I'm not a fan of the couple of tracks where Robben sings.

I would take away another star for Robben's singing. However, I have searched for some time for a Robben Ford disc without the singing. Most of what I've found is music that is heavy on fusion. That's ok, but this disc is more in my jazzy blues sweet spot. I'm grateful to be able to hear Robben "shut up and play his guitar" for most of the tracks on this disc. So I'll keep the stars at four.

The bottomline is this: Larry is the jazzy blues Sensei. But at least from a guitar playing standpoint, Robben Ford is the reigning champ. I just wish he'd do more instrumental albums in this style. If he does another Dumble-mint Twins disc (sorry) with L.C., I'm sure I'd enjoy that too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - but, May 1, 2008

By 

Robert Williams (Gold Coast, Qld Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live in Tokyo With Special Guest Robben Ford (Audio CD)

This is a great showcase of Larry and Robben and I love the drumming as well. BUT.. Buy it through 335 records and you get it with the promotional dvd and this is much better to watch/listen than just listen.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Energy abounds!, July 28, 2007

By 

Robert Putignano "Bob Putignano http://www.So... (Mount Vernon, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live in Tokyo With Special Guest Robben Ford (Audio CD)

Larry Carlton with special guest Robben Ford `Live in Tokyo'

What a great concept; pairing these two guitar legends, (Carlton and Ford,) together for a live album. Not to mention that between the two of them, their writing and recording credits (solo, and as sidemen) are proverbially incredible. Was there ever a doubt that this would be a great recording? No! As both of these graying guitarists sound as fresh and as sparkling as they did when they first hit the music scene back in the seventies. It's also interesting to note that while Robben has been more of a bluesman over the last few years, it's equally interesting to note how Carlton has gravitated to the blues on recent recordings; (seek out Larry's 2004 `Sapphire Blue;' which is an extremely fine blues instrumental recording.)

The operative word for this album is `energy,' very high and creative energy. All in all there are eight tracks included, four authored by Carlton, two by Ford, a Gabriel Ford track, and the JB Lenoir & Alexis Atkins tune that Robben made famous all over again back in the nineties; `Talk to Your Daughter.' Both guitarists are on every track, and Robben sings on the two closing tunes.

Highlights include; the opening track `That Road' authored by Ford, which is a funky instrumental that simmers and boils, and allows the two gifted ones to work out perfectly trading leads to orgasmic delights, and it's immediately apparent that this is going to be one heck of a night, and recording, and they were just getting started! Carlton's `Rio Samba' opens showcasing Travis Carton's funky bass, (Travis is Carlton's son,) so the apple did not fall far from the tree, and again features Ford's and Carlton's trading leads; which is a true marvel to listen to. `Two Bad' is a slow blues that builds to high intensity, and I was amazed how well they finished each other's guitar phrases. The last two tracks on this extremely fine recording, are sung by Robben, that being `Talk to your Daughter' which is a slick romp through the blues, with tons of energy coming from Carlton and Ford's guitars plus strong vocals from Robben. The closing track `Too Much' is appropriately titled, and once again shows off Robben's vocal depth, and the two guitarist bump and grind to a dirty-filthy (but clean) climax!

`Live in Tokyo' clocks in at over sixty-nine minutes, which is pretty chunky; but given the quality of the performance, and the clean recorded sound, I could have died and gone to heaven had this been a double CD set. That being said, Robben told me that there will be DVD of this performance, plus another Carlton/Ford collaboration (recorded in Pairs) forthcoming. I can't wait!

Musicians: Larry Carlton (guitar), Robben Ford (guitar and vocals), Jeff Babko (keyboards), Toss Panos (drums), Travis Carlton (bass)

Tracks: That Road, Burnable, Cold Gold, Rio Samba, Derrick's Blues, Two Bad, Talk To Your Daughter, Too Much

Artist's Website: http://www.larrycarlton.com http://www.robbenford.com

Bob Putignano www.SoundsofBlue.com