By: Staff
On July 30, Earl Klugh released HandPicked, a soulful, sixteen-track solo/duet recording featuring special guest guitarists Vince Gill, Bill Frisell and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.
“In the earlier part of my career, I was busy touring and playing with a six and seven-piece band,” Klugh says. “But I think it’s important from time to time to step back and reexamine some things. So I thought it was the ideal time because I ran into several of my guitar friends over the last couple of years. And it got me to thinking – maybe I can include some duets in my next project.”
Here are upcoming Earl Klugh tour dates can be found HERE.
In other news, leading satellite radio channel SiriusXM is forming the SiriusXM Watercolors Jazz Hall of Fame to honor the legacies of its pioneering artists. Contemporary jazz icons Klugh, David Sanborn and the late Grover Washington Jr. constitute the inaugural class that will be inducted into the music hall during a ceremony held aboard The Smooth Jazz Cruise October 18. Klugh and Sanborn will also perform during the induction ceremony that will air on SiriusXM’s Watercolors.
On July 30, Jake Shimabukuro joined Klugh for a take on The Eagles’ “Hotel California” at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.
Jake Shimabukuru and Earl Klugh – photo courtesy of E. Klugh
Critical acclaim for HandPicked:
“HandPicked is a great first-thing-in-the-morning album: The mixture of hummable tunes and virtuoso musicianship makes it just the right thing to get the day started on a high note.” – DownBeat Editors’ Picks
“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 HandPicked one of the finest recordings in his catalog.” – All Music
“No one should be surprised if HandPicked becomes one of guitarist Earl Klugh’s most successful recordings…” – JazzTimes
“Klugh took the production reins on what amounts to his third solo guitar recording out of 30-some albums, an incredibly personal work from the choice of tunes (his favorites ranging from Burt Bacharach to Thelonious Monk, as well as several originals) right down to a production style that brings the guitar so close that it feels almost illegally voyeuristic.” – NY Daily News
