INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Larry Carlton and Robben Ford
Larry CarltonThursday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., $39.50, 18+
Larry Carlton recorded his first album 40 years ago (With A Little Help From My Friends) and hasn’t slowed down since. He was a member of The Crusaders for five years and 13 albums, has toured with Joni Mitchell and has been a member of Fourplay for the last 10 years. Carlton’s latest album Live In Tokyo (released on 335, his own label) also features Robben Ford. Expect an album from Carlton and his Sapphire Blues Band with Keb’ Mo’ later this year.
Ford has established himself as a guitarist, blues or otherwise, by playing with Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Tom Scott, Charlie Musselwhite and Bonnie Raitt. Ford’s latest album Truth (Concord) was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album of 2007.
NUVO spoke with the guitarists, who will perform together at the Music Mill Thursday night.
NUVO: What have you learned from each other, playing-wise?
Larry Carlton: It’s not what I learn from him, it’s what I appreciate as a fan of Robben Ford. When he’s playing I’m like most of the people in the audience. I just enjoy him.
Robben Ford: When I first got together with Larry, I couldn’t believe someone could make music out of any situation so readily. He would hear something and he would start to play something to enhance the music so quickly. It was so far off my radar. I found him inspiring.
NUVO: What’s your opinion on the relationship between jazz and blues?
Ford: People used to say jazz came out of the blues, but that’s not true. Jazz already existed in the form of Dixieland before blues was heard. For me, what I love about blues is its gutsy and earthy quality. What I love about jazz is the sophistication, harmonically and melodically. I equate jazz with French impressionism. You can do so much with it in so many ways. My life’s work has been putting these two things together.
NUVO: You both played separately with Joni Mitchell. What was that like?
Carlton: It was a really joyful experience. There were never any musical handcuffs on anybody.
Ford: My first year with Joni was probably my favorite musical experience. I was surprised they brought me on board because I was just a blues player. They saw the potential and I’m glad they did. She’s the greatest artist since I’ve been alive, even better than people like Miles Davis and John Coltrane.