Song:Angelina
Album:The Best of Earl Klugh Vol. 1
When guitarist Earl Klugh started out in the 70s, he didn't know he was inventing Smooth Jazz. He just enjoys playing in that style. Angelina is from Klugh's 1976 debut album on Blue Note Records. He was born Sept. 16, 1953 in Detroit. His biggest influence was Nashville guitar legend Chet Atkins. But he has also acknowledged Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery as major influences. At age 15, he appeared on sax player Yusef Lateef's recording of The Beatles song Michelle from the 1970 album Suite 16. Then he played on George Benson's 1971 album White Rabbit and joined his touring band. Klugh signed with Blue Note Records in 1976 and early in his career worked with producer Dave Grusin. Grusin is a pianist best known for his film and TV work. But he also records and produces jazz and was co-owner of GRP Records. Angelina is a solo acoustic guitar performance from Klugh's 1976 debut album Earl Klugh. Klugh wrote the song and still performs it today. Musicians appearing on the album include Grusin on piano, Lee Ritenour on guitar, Louis Johnson on bass and Harvey Mason Sr. on drums. Klugh had a lot of success on the jazz charts. He also won a Grammy for his album One On One with pianist Bob James. And he even had more success when he left Blue Note for Warner Bros. in 1985. If you're looking for a more challenging brand of jazz, listen to something else. Klugh is a fine musician but he has clearly embraced the Smooth Jazz market and it has served him very well. This comp covers his Blue Note recordings. Klugh still tours. His latest CD HandPicked was released by Heads up Records last year and features guest appearances by Bill Frisell and Vince Gill. Here's Earl Klugh performing Angelina at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago June 26, 2010 which is available on DVD.
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