Search - Larry Carlton :: Renegade Gentleman

Michael H. (Music-Man) from LA VERNE, CA
Reviewed on 9/4/2008...

While I somewhat agree with the AMG review posted here, this album is a bit more "edgy" than most of Carlton's work. With Terry McMillan, he's ratcheted up the energy a bit, turned on the distortion, and generally "made hay".

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

The kind of record LC was born to make

09/17/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since he left the Crusuders in 1977, Larry Carlton has recorded about a dozen fusion records which have increasingly become less rock-oriented and more of the generic-sounding soft music you hear on "smooth jazz" radio stations. This is unfortunate, because anyone who has heard Steely Dan's song "Kid Charlamane" just once knows that LC is a damned good blues-based rock guitarist at heart.A few years ago Carlton enlisted lesser-known blues harmonicist Terry McMillan and recorded some songs that bring back this side of Larry, and it is a real treat to hear him in this format.For this record, Carlton chucks the too-perfect pristine guitar playing in favor of some good 'n' dirty blues-rock licks that reminds us that he can spit and chew with Clapton as well as he can with Atkins. In McMillan he has found a soulmate for this project, a powerful harmonica player who is somewhat reminiscent of Little Walter and who holds his own against LC's super-charged guitar. I sure wish he had sang on more songs, because he did some pretty good blues wailing on "Cold Day in Hell", my favorite track on the record. But almost every other song is good, too. Larry himself sings on a couple of tracks, but he was never much of a singer. "Farm Jazz" is a high-powered and superior version of the song he orginally released on "Kid Gloves". Other songs range from Allman Brothers to Robben Ford. Carlton breaks no new ground on the record, but it is his most fun and enjoyable record in many years. He should do more of these. Welcome back home, Larry."

Blues Duo!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 08/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On Renegade Gentleman, Larry Carlton joins with Terry McMillan for a Southern Rock affair with excellent blues overtones. Anyone familiar with Carlton knows that he is ever changing and always growing as a guitarist. Whether it's an acoustic outing such as "Alone But Never Alone" or "Minute by Minute", electric pop such as "Kid Gloves" or in combination with other greats such as Steve Lukather, you usually get something a little different and more refined with each release. This time out, Carlton has joined with Terry McMillian and has gone in yet another direction. McMillian is a blues harpist that has played with Neil Young, Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis to name but a few. His style is reminiscent of Little Walter or John Mayall and he blows with authority. To ensure the proper blues flavor, Double Trouble's Chris Layton appears on drums for five of the discs eleven numbers. All original compositions and the combination here is potent and extremely satisfying."