Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather Band: The Paris Concert

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Elly Roberts reviews

Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather Band: The Paris Concert
Distributed by
Inakustik (through Wienerworld)

    Cover

  • Cert:
  • Cat.no: WNRD2354
  • Running time: 75 minutes
  • Year: 2001
  • Pressing: 2006
  • Region(s): 0, PAL
  • Sound: DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Languages: English
  • Fullscreen: 4:3
  • Disc Format: DVD 9
  • Price: £15.99
  • Rating: 10/10
  • Extras:In conversation with Larry Carlton, Talking to Steve Lukather,Soundcheck sketches, Guitar tips from Larry to his fans

Two ‘old’ American chums turn up in a sweaty venue in Europe to play out their musical fantasies for a sold out gig.

It turns out to be a battle ofthe giants at a low-key venue in Paris, which brings mind-boggling results.When you bring together two men with this amount of natural talent fromdifferent genres, (even though they’re not household names) you’re sure of agreat night, which this certainly was.

Caught live at the New Morning inJuly 2001, this intimate concert, pairing two of the greatest ‘axemen’ oftheir generation, Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather is nothing short of amusical masterpiece. Carlton the ‘mentor’: Lukather the ‘pupil’. It turnsout to be a mutual appreciation society. Both are in total awe of theirrespective skills and achievements – they regularly pay homage to each other– gladly it’s not sickly sweet – a bit of fun mixed with respect.

For years,Lukather is better known for his outstanding contribution to American WestCoast soft-rock band Toto, which I had the privilege of seeing a couple ofyears ago at Manchester Apollo. This boy can play. Carlton, famous for hisinvolvement with the Crusaders, Steely Dan and Mike Post’s Theme fromHill Street Blues, is regarded as the unsung hero of contemporary jazzfusion.

On stage, the pair is equalled by a solid rhythm section of sticksman GaryFerguson and bassist Chris Kent. World class pianist Rick Jackson adds thefinishing touches.

Predictably, the relatively short setlist of six tracks is instrumental,though Lukather does take to the mic in short spurts, exercising his littleknown Blues repertoire, cranking up the atmosphere in the process.

What you hear, because stage presentation is in short supply, is one of themost spell-binding ‘skills exemplars’ ever caught on film.

From the outset, the performance provides a close-up of two men at the peakof their powers as both get a chance to play out their combined musicalfantasies. Both get a chance to show their individual and often differingstyles, which perfectly juxtapose each other. ‘Luke’ is the more flamboyantshowman, whereas Carlton, is more subdued and subtle in the ‘touch’department. Combined, a lifetime of musical experiences comes gushing out tothe thrill of the Parisienne crowd who sweat it out with the band.

The part-improvisational jam session, layered on solid formats, glued me to thescreen throughout the show. Carlton draws heavily on Joe Pass and B.B.King,where his gentle technique originates. ‘Luke’, a big Beatles fan, draws onPage, Beck and Hendrix et al. His use of reverb hails back to old skoolguitar heroes, though he can mix it, as he opens up to throwing in jazzysounds with great sensitivity.

When he ‘solos’ he likes to thrust his guitar in your face, as a couple offans found to their delight: he bends the strings to snapping point. Bothshow great passion and pleasure in combining, and in some ways, healthilycompeting with each other. The sound of their ‘twin guitars’ is reminiscentof Wishbone Ash and Thin Lizzy. With only one recognisable tune, the finale,Put It Where You Want It from Carlton’s Deep Into It album, the crowd areleft breathless. Me to.

Result? A draw. Conclusion? Must have DVD for real music lovers, and buddingguitarists.

Tracks include: The Pump, Blues Force, It Was Only Yesterday, Red House,Don’t Give It Up, Room 305, Put It Where You Want It.

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