HandPicked

Last updated
HandPicked
Earl Klugh HandPicked.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 30, 2013
Genre Smooth jazz, crossover jazz
Length55:36
Label Heads Up
Producer Earl Klugh, Bill Frisell, Jake Shimabukuro, Vince Gill
Earl Klugh chronology
The Spice of Life
(2008)
HandPicked
(2013)

HandPicked is a studio album by jazz guitarist Earl Klugh released on July 30, 2013. This is Klugh's first album of new material since he released The Spice of Life in 2008 and it is also his first for the Heads Up label. The album features Klugh playing solo guitar arrangements on 13 of the 16 songs in a style similar to his earlier albums Solo Guitar and Naked Guitar. On the remaining three tracks, Klugh plays duets with guitarist Bill Frisell, ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro, and guitarist and vocalist Vince Gill.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Premier Guitar 4/5 [2]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Writing for Allmusic, critic Thom Jurek wrote, "It's been five years since Earl Klugh issued the smooth chamber group offering The Spice of Life." "It's been a long time since we heard Klugh this way, almost totally solo, taking an intimate look at music he loves from across the spectrum. His graceful yet inventive playing, the clean production, and a canny choice of material make Hand Picked one of the finest recordings in his catalog." [1]

Jason Shadrick of Premier Guitar gives the album a 4 out of a possible 5 picks and writes, "On HandPicked, Klugh sticks with mainly pop and jazz standards and doesn't fall into the trap of over-arranging tunes to the detriment of melodies. He opens with Burt Bacharach's "Alfie," holding true to the original’s melody, but adding his trademark harmonic twists and turns, as well as occasional technical flash." [2]

Brent Faulkner of PopMatters gives the album 7 out of a possible 10 and concludes his review with, "Ultimately, Handpicked is pleasant showing the total musician flexing his muscles. The bar has long been established for Klugh, but this effort is definitely confirmation of his elite status." [3]

Matthew Alley reviews the album for Black Grooves and concludes, "While it may be a bit inconsistent at times, overall Handpicked is a strong effort from the virtuoso guitarist and is well-deserving of its Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album of 2013. Klugh continues to surprise and delight with his clever arrangements, compositions, and performances." [4]

Track listing

  1. "Alfie" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 2:34
  2. "Lullaby of Birdland" (George Shearing) – 2:28
  3. "Blue Moon" (Duet with Bill Frisell) (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 6:11
  4. "In Six" (Earl Klugh) – 4:08
  5. "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" (Vince Guaraldi) – 3:14
  6. "Hotel California" (Duet with Jake Shimabukuro) (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley) – 8:05
  7. "More and More Amor" (Sol Lake) – 3:38
  8. "'Round Midnight" (Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams, Bernard Hanighen) – 2:31
  9. "But Beautiful" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 1:48
  10. "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (Duet with Vince Gill) (Boudleaux Bryant) – 3:46
  11. "Goin' Out of My Head" (Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein) – 3:39
  12. "If I Fell" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 1:58
  13. "Where the Wind Takes Me" (Klugh) – 2:03
  14. "Morning Rain" (Klugh) – 3:16
  15. "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" (Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) – 2:21
  16. "This Time (Solo)" (Klugh) – 3:56

Personnel

Production notes

Produced by Bill Frisell and Earl Klugh
Recorded by Tucker Martine at Flora Recording and Playback, Portland, OR
Assistant Engineer: Michael Finn
Produced by Jake Shimabukuro and Earl Klugh
Recorded by Erik Zobler at The Record Plant, Hollywood, CA
Assistant Engineer: Daniel Zaidenstadt
Produced by Vince Gill and Earl Klugh
Recorded by Matt Rausch at "The House" Studios, Nashville, TN

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Frisell</span> American jazz guitarist (born 1951)

William Richard Frisell is an American jazz guitarist. He first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts, notably as a participant in the Downtown Scene in New York City, where he formed a long working relationship with composer and saxophonist John Zorn. He was also a longtime member of veteran drummer Paul Motian's groups from the early 1980s until Motian's death in 2011. Since the late 1990s, Frisell's output as a bandleader has also integrated prominent elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana. He has six Grammy nominations and one win.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Gill</span> American country musician (born 1957)

Vincent Grant Gill is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He began in a number of local bluegrass bands in the 1970s, and from 1978 to 1982, he achieved his first mainstream attention as lead singer of the soft rock band Pure Prairie League. Gill sang lead on their hit single "Let Me Love You Tonight" in addition to writing several songs of theirs. After leaving Pure Prairie League, Gill briefly played guitar in Rodney Crowell's backing band the Cherry Bombs before beginning a solo career in country music in 1984. Gill recorded for RCA Records Nashville from then until 1988 with minimal success. A year later, he signed with MCA Nashville, where he would have his country music breakthrough with When I Call Your Name. Gill has remained with MCA for all subsequent albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Shimabukuro</span> American musician (born 1976)

Jake Shimabukuro is a ukulele virtuoso and composer from Hawaii known for his fast and complex finger work. His music combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk, and flamenco. Shimabukuro has written numerous original compositions, including the entire soundtracks to two Japanese films, Hula Girls (2007) and Sideways (2009), the Japanese remake of the same name.

<i>Sunday Morning</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Jake Shimabukuro

Sunday Morning is ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro's first full-length solo album. It was released in the U.S. in October 2002 by Four Strings Productions / Hitchhike Records. The album was released in Japan the following year on August 12, 2003 by Sony Music Distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfie (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1966 song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

"Alfie" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David to promote the 1966 film Alfie. The song was a major hit for Cilla Black (UK) and Dionne Warwick (US).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral Reefer Band</span> Touring and recording act of Jimmy Buffett

The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. The band's name alludes to both coral reefs and "reefer".

"The Shadow of Your Smile", also known as "Love Theme from The Sandpiper", is a popular song. The music was written by Johnny Mandel with the lyrics written by Paul Francis Webster. The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, with a trumpet solo by Jack Sheldon and later became a minor hit for Tony Bennett. It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2004, the song finished at number 77 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs poll of the top tunes in American cinema.

<i>Gently Weeps</i> 2006 studio album by Jake Shimabukuro

Gently Weeps is the fifth U.S. solo album by ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro, released in September 2006 on the Hitchhike Records label. In Japan the album was released on June 19, 2006 by Sony Music Distribution, with 17 tracks, many of which differed from the U.S. release, and additional bonus tracks on a CD-ROM.

<i>Friends Can Be Lovers</i> 1993 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Friends Can Be Lovers is the twenty-ninth studio album by American singer Dionne Warwick. Her tenth album for Arista Records, it was released on January 20, 1993, in the United States. Warwick garthered material from songwriters and producers such as Barry J. Eastmond, Harvey Mason, Siedah Garrett, Dianne Warren, and Blue Zone lead singer Lisa Stansfield. The album, which Warwick described as "a labor love" and true "family affair," also saw her collaborating with her son David Elliot and cousin Whitney Houston for the first time as well as reuniting with former contributors Burt Bacharach and Hal David on the song "Sunny Weather Love" after more than two decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Message to Michael</span> 1966 single by Dionne Warwick

"Message to Michael" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, that has been a hit for several different artists under several different titles. The song was first recorded as "Message to Martha" by Jerry Butler in 1962. In 1964, singer Lou Johnson had a minor US hit with the song, with the title "Kentucky Bluebird". British singer Adam Faith also recorded the song as "A Message to Martha " in 1965, and had a substantial hit with it in the UK, reaching No. 12. Exactly the same recording was issued in Australia as "Message to Martha", where it was a No. 15 hit for Faith. In the United States, Dionne Warwick's version, titled "Message to Michael", was a top ten hit there in 1966.

<i>Living inside Your Love</i> 1976 studio album by Earl Klugh

Living inside Your Love is the second studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1976, by Blue Note Records and Liberty Records. George Butler was the executive producer.

<i>Naked Guitar</i> 2005 studio album by Earl Klugh

Naked Guitar is a solo-guitar studio album by Earl Klugh released in 2005. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 48th Grammy Awards in 2006. After six years of studio absence, Klugh returned to the studio and released a fingerstyle jazz album similar to his 1989 release "Solo Guitar". Naked Guitar is the first album to be recorded by Klugh on the Koch Records label. It features solo interpretations of 13 standards and pop classics, as well as the song "Angelina", a tune from Klugh's self-titled 1976 solo debut album that he wrote in 1971.

<i>Dream Come True</i> (Earl Klugh album) 1980 studio album by Earl Klugh

Dream Come True is the 6th studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1980. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Fusion Performance at the 23rd Grammy Awards in 1981.

<i>Live</i> (Jake Shimabukuro album) 2009 live album by Jake Shimabukuro

Live is Jake Shimabukuro's 2009 solo album. It was released in April 2009, and consists of live in-concert performances from various venues around the world, including New York, Chicago, Japan, and Hawaii.

<i>Peace Love Ukulele</i> 2011 studio album by Jake Shimabukuro

Peace Love Ukulele is Jake Shimabukuro's 2011 solo album. It was released in January 2011, and reached #1 in Billboard's Top World Music Albums in 2011 and 2012.

<i>Grand Ukulele</i> 2012 studio album by Jake Shimabukuro

Grand Ukulele is Jake Shimabukuro's 2012 album, released in October 2012. The album was produced by Alan Parsons, with orchestrations done by Kip Winger.

<i>Music IS</i> 2018 studio album by Bill Frisell

Music IS is a solo studio album by American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, which was released on the OKeh label on March 16, 2018.

<i>Valentine</i> (Bill Frisell album) 2020 studio album by Bill Frisell

Valentine is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. The album was released on 14 August 2020 by Blue Note. This is his second release on the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josie James</span> American singer

Josephine James is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and recording artist. James is best known for her performances on Burt Bacharach’s world tours, such as her feature song “Anyone Who Had a Heart". James is also the lead vocalist of George Duke, the band. James' co-wrote her solo albums Candles, Songcity, Hit Factory, and That Jazz with producer Nigel Martinez. James and Martinez also collaborated to release several UK singles: "Dance You Up," "Call Me ," "Now or Never," and "It's Up To Me." Her performance on "Street Life" from the album Royal Jam with The Crusaders, B.B. King, and The London Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded live at Royal Festival Hall, was nominated for a Grammy.

<i>Travels</i> (Jake Shimabukuro album) 2015 studio album by Jake Shimabukuro

Travels is the eleventh solo album by Japanese-American ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro. It was released on October 9, 2015, by Hitchhike Records. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard World Albums chart and No. 11 on its Heatseekers Albums chart.

References

  1. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. "HandPicked > Review". Allmusic . Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Shadrick, Jason (18 August 2013). "Review". Premier Guitar. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 Faulkner, Brent (24 September 2013). "Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  4. Alley, Matthew (3 February 2014). "Review". Black Grooves. Retrieved 12 March 2020.