Finger Paintings - Earl Klugh (1977) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Finger Paintings by Earl Klugh.

There are records that whisper and records that swagger, and Earl Klugh's "Finger Paintings" manages to do both across its nine tracks. Klugh's acoustic guitar sits at the center of it all, unamplified and warm, threading its way through arrangements that never crowd it out. This is the sound of a player who understood that restraint can be its own kind of virtuosity, letting each phrase breathe against a backdrop of gorgeous, carefully layered accompaniment.

Much of that backdrop belongs to Dave Grusin, whose fingerprints are everywhere. He produces, conducts, and arranges the entire session while also lending Fender Rhodes, synthesizer, and percussion to the proceedings. Alongside co-producer Larry Rosen, who also handled recording and mixing duties, Grusin shapes a sound that feels both plush and precise. The result glides from the percolating opener "Dr. Macumba" through the wistful standard "Long Ago And Far Away" and the sun-warmed pulse of "Cabo Frio" without ever losing its poise.

The players assembled here read like a who's who of late seventies session royalty. Anthony Jackson and Louis Johnson split the electric bass chairs, while Steve Gadd and Harvey Mason trade off behind the kit, each bringing a distinct feel to the tracks they anchor. Lee Ritenour adds electric guitar on several cuts, his lines dovetailing neatly with Klugh's acoustic work. Percussion comes courtesy of Ralph MacDonald, Steve Forman, and Grusin himself, adding color and motion throughout.

Listen closely and you'll hear the horns and strings that give this record its cinematic sweep. A horn section including Tom Scott, Chuck Findley, Jerome Richardson, Jack Nimitz, Larry Williams, and Dick "Slyde" Hyde punctuates the arrangements, while a deep roster of string players fills out the lush passages that lift tracks like "Catherine" and "Keep Your Eyes On The Sparrow (Baretta's Theme)." Those strings were tracked separately at Columbia Studios on 30th Street in New York, then folded into the whole.

The bulk of the album was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California, with John Golden handling the mastering. The lone exception is "Summer Song," which was captured at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Phil Schier oversaw the strings and horns sessions, with Michael Ebert and Michael Shulman assisting on recording and mixing, and George Butler serving as executive producer.

From the danceable groove of "Dance With Me" to the closing reflection of "This Time," "Finger Paintings" rewards the listener who wants their jazz elegant, melodic, and impeccably crafted. It's a showcase for Klugh's singular touch and a snapshot of a stellar cast working at the top of their game.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Dr. Macumba
A2. Long Ago And Far Away
A3. Cabo Frio
A4. Keep Your Eyes On The Sparrow (Baretta's Theme)
B1. Catherine
B2. Dance With Me
B3. Jolanta
B4. Summer Song
B5. This Time

Credits:
Earl Klugh - Acoustic Guitar
Anthony Jackson - Bass [Electric] (A1 to A3, B1, B5)
Louis Johnson - Bass [Electric] (A4, B2, B3)
Harvey Mason - Drums (A2, A3, B1, B5)
Steve Gadd - Drums (A1, A4, B2 to B4)
Lee Ritenour - Electric Guitar (A1 to A3, B1, B5)
Dave Grusin - Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer, Producer, Conductor, Arranged By
George Butler - Executive-Producer
Chuck Findley - Horns
Dick "Slyde" Hyde - Horns
Jack Nimitz - Horns
Jerome Richardson - Horns
Larry Williams - Horns
Tom Scott - Horns
John Golden - Mastered By
Dave Grusin - Percussion (B1, B2)
Ralph MacDonald - Percussion (A1, A2, B3, B5)
Steve Forman - Percussion (A3, A4, B4)
Larry Rosen - Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By
Phil Schier - Recorded By [Strings & Horns]
Michael Ebert (2) - Recorded By, Mixed By [Assistant]
Michael Shulman - Recorded By, Mixed By [Assistant]
Allan Harshman - Strings
Ann Stockton - Strings
Arnold Belnick - Strings
Bernard Kundell - Strings
Constance Pressman - Strings
Dana L. Rees - Strings
David Montagu - Strings
Edgar Lustgarten (2) - Strings
Endre Granat - Strings
Gerald Vinci - Strings
Jacob Krachmalnick - Strings
Karen Jones (2) - Strings
Marshall Sosson - Strings
Pamela Goldsmith - Strings
Sheldon Sanov - Strings

Notes:
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, CA, except "Summer Song" recorded at Electric Lady Studios, NY, NY. Strings recorded at Columbia Studios, 30th Street, NY, NY.

Artist: Earl Klugh

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: BN-LA737-H

Release Year: 1977

Country: United States