Sapphire Blue

Larry Carlton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA Bluebird
• ASIN: B00012FX54
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,365 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Friday Nights Shuffle

2. A Pair of Kings

3. Night Sweats

4. Sapphire Blue

5. 7 For Ya'

6. Slightly Dirty

7. Just An Excuse To Play The Blues

8. Take Me Down

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It is said that the sins of the father are visited on the sons, but sometimes Junior's sins are visited on poor dad. Players like Larry Carlton, David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, and Eddie Van Halen developed new, personal sounds and techniques on their instruments that have since been bastardized by dozens of less-talented offspring, often leading to an unfair denigration of the progenitors. Carlton's smooth, singing guitar tone has been adopted by a legion of hacks who would never be able to create the inventive solos the LA session ace supplied to Steely Dan (see: "Kid Charlemagne"), nor the revolutionary textures he bestowed upon Joni Mitchell (see: all of Court and Spark). Granted the requirements of radio have occasionally softened his own edge; but offered the chance to record anything he wants results in Sapphire Blue--a horn-section driven, blues-based outing that reminds us why he is, well, Larry Carlton. From the opening romp of "Friday Night Shuffle," to the closing down-home acoustic/harmonica duet of "Take Me Down," this disc offers undiluted guitar soul with no concessions to the "smooth jazz" canon. Any doubts will be quickly dispelled with one listen to the title tune, where drummer Billy Kilson (Dave Holland) is allowed to go brilliantly berserk under the climax of Carlton's final solo. Throughout, Carlton's greasy playing rivals some of his best work with the Crusaders, providing a textbook for a new generation of guitarists. Let's hope that this time they learn the right lessons. --Michael Ross

Product Description

Sapphire Blue by Larry Carlton

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Labels are evil, March 7, 2004

By 

John Terry "musiclikerguy" (Kansas City, Mo) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sapphire Blue (Audio CD)

I bought this one after reading the Amazon reviewer and several customer reviews. Truth be told, I knew of Larry Carlton before but felt no need to check him out. It was that "smooth jazz" label that scared me away. I always thought of that type of music as something you listened to in the dentist's chair. Novocaine for the ears, as it were. Do I have a point? Maybe I do. Oh yeah, I think it was the fact that a label caused me to pass on listening to a very talented man. This album is not "smooth jazz". Whatever that is. "Saphire Blue" is an exercise in breathtaking guitar virtuosity done in a blues style. I phrase it that way because someone is going to pass on the album based on the fact that Larry is not an elderly African American man from Mississippi. It's the purist's loss. They'll miss out on the joy that comes from listening to a man who's at the top of his game and a master of his chosen profession.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SMOKIN' WORK OF ART FROM A MASTER, January 14, 2004

By 

jaba - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sapphire Blue (Audio CD)

The new Larry Carlton CD "Saphire Blue" is a true work of art! I always hope these days when I buy a CD that it's something from the artist where they finally said "DARN IT - I'm going to make a CD of music I WANT TO MAKE and make it my very best." Well, this CD sounds like Larry was able to do exactly that. This recording is just AWESOME. No watered down smooth jazz here what so ever. Very blues/fusion/r&b/organ/harmonica oriented - hence the title. Several cuts have REALLY smokin' horn section playin' - All with a very live feel. Players are all many of Nashville's finest. Larry wrote in the liners - "I have wanted for many years to do a blues oriented CD. For Sapphire Blue, I had complete creative freedom. It is a big part of my spirit captured on CD. I hope that all who listen will feel my joy." Believe me, it shows and sounds like it here!! Keep it coming this way Larry!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real treat for those seeking a "less smooth" Carlton, January 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sapphire Blue (Audio CD)

People who have listented to Carlton across the decades know that he's not a musician of limited range. I personally enjoy the Fourplay stuff as part of that range but my first question when I learned of his intention to release a blues album was "I wonder if he'll loosen up and let 'er rip" The answer: Yeah. Understand that this is not "Larry Carlton & Double Trouble," nor is it similar to his collaboration "No Substitutions" with Steve Lukather. It's not a Humble Pie CD. The album has a big band / swing blues feel on many tracks but the seriously nasty track...the one where he both plays AND sprays the notes...is the title track. It's eight minutes long and fulfills any "Carlton Plays The Blues" fantasies his fans might have. There are little touches of the "attitude" playing that graced so many of the classic Steely Dan tracks (and help build his legend). "Just An Excuse" is similar in spirit to many of Eric Clapton's slow and aggressive blues tracks, but he is NOT ripping EC off by any means. "Take Me Down," the album closer, prominently features Terry McMillan on harmonica and is the only track that never really catches fire...somewhat "Delta blues" but it never gets out of first gear. The CD is 48 minutes long, living up to the show business creed of "always leave 'em wanting more"...but 48 solid minutes from a master of the instrument like Carlton is absolutely worth the sticker price.