First Time Available On 180g 2-Disc Vinyl! Kevin Gray/Cohearant Vinyl Mastering!
In a career that took flight in 1985 with immediate commercial and critical acclaim, guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan has consistently displayed a chameleonic musical persona of openness, imagination, versatility, respect and maverick daring. Be it bold reinventions of classical masterpieces or soulful explorations through pop-rock hits, to blazing straight ahead jazz forays and ultramodern improvisational works - solo or with a group - Jordan can always be counted on to take listeners on breathless journeys into the unexpected.
A release that its creator Stanley Jordan cites as his most realized project to date finds him in challenging company: fellow strummers Charlie Hunter, Russell Malone, Bucky Pizzarelli and Mike Stern; saxmen (and label mate) Kenny Garrett and Ronnie Laws; N'awlins trumpeter Nicholas Payton and the renown violinist Regina Carter. Another label mate, Christian McBride, guests on bass when not handled by Stanley's long-time trio bassist Charnett Moffett. Kenwood Dennard of his trio holds down the drum chair. Truly, a collection of Friends whose benefits push Stanley into a heightened musical reality.
"...Jordan has come up with one of his most impressive and diverse efforts." - JazzTimes
"Just like early jazz guitarists who preceded before him - the likes of Django Reinhardt, Eddie Lang, Charlie Christian, Lonnie Johnson, and Wes Montgomery - Stanley Jordan's 'Friends' (album) is a mirror image of these Jazz Masters." - San Diego County News
Features:
180g Virgin Vinyl
Double LP
Pressed at URP in Nashville
Kevin Gray/Cohearant Vinyl Mastering
Musicians:
Stanley Jordan, guitar, piano (live piano & guitar on I Kissed A Girl)
Regina Carter, violin
Kenwood Dennard, drums (live drums & keyboard on Bathed In Light)
Kenny Garrett, soprano saxophone
Charlie Hunter, guitar
Ronnie Laws, soprano saxophone
Russell Malone, guitar
Christian McBride, bass
Charnett Moffett, bass
Nicholas Payton, trumpet
Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar
Mike Stern, guitar
Selections:
LP1 - Side 1:
1. Capital J
2. Walkin' the Dog
3. Lil' Darlin
LP1 - Side 2:
1. Giant Steps
2. I Kissed A Girl
3. Samba Delight
LP2 - Side 3:
1. Seven Come Eleven
2. Bathed in Light
LP2 - Side 4:
1. Romantic Intermezzo Theme from Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra
2. Reverie
3. One For Milton
Produced by Stanley Jordan and Al Pryor
In a career that took flight in 1985 with immediate commercial and critical acclaim, guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan has consistently displayed a chameleonic musical persona of openness, imagination, versatility, respect and maverick daring. Be it bold reinventions of classical masterpieces or soulful explorations through pop-rock hits, to blazing straight ahead jazz forays and ultramodern improvisational works - solo or with a group - Jordan can always be counted on to take listeners on breathless journeys into the unexpected.
A release that its creator Stanley Jordan cites as his most realized project to date finds him in challenging company: fellow strummers Charlie Hunter, Russell Malone, Bucky Pizzarelli and Mike Stern; saxmen (and label mate) Kenny Garrett and Ronnie Laws; N'awlins trumpeter Nicholas Payton and the renown violinist Regina Carter. Another label mate, Christian McBride, guests on bass when not handled by Stanley's long-time trio bassist Charnett Moffett. Kenwood Dennard of his trio holds down the drum chair. Truly, a collection of Friends whose benefits push Stanley into a heightened musical reality.
"...Jordan has come up with one of his most impressive and diverse efforts." - JazzTimes
"Just like early jazz guitarists who preceded before him - the likes of Django Reinhardt, Eddie Lang, Charlie Christian, Lonnie Johnson, and Wes Montgomery - Stanley Jordan's 'Friends' (album) is a mirror image of these Jazz Masters." - San Diego County News
Features:
180g Virgin Vinyl
Double LP
Pressed at URP in Nashville
Kevin Gray/Cohearant Vinyl Mastering
Musicians:
Stanley Jordan, guitar, piano (live piano & guitar on I Kissed A Girl)
Regina Carter, violin
Kenwood Dennard, drums (live drums & keyboard on Bathed In Light)
Kenny Garrett, soprano saxophone
Charlie Hunter, guitar
Ronnie Laws, soprano saxophone
Russell Malone, guitar
Christian McBride, bass
Charnett Moffett, bass
Nicholas Payton, trumpet
Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar
Mike Stern, guitar
Selections:
LP1 - Side 1:
1. Capital J
2. Walkin' the Dog
3. Lil' Darlin
LP1 - Side 2:
1. Giant Steps
2. I Kissed A Girl
3. Samba Delight
LP2 - Side 3:
1. Seven Come Eleven
2. Bathed in Light
LP2 - Side 4:
1. Romantic Intermezzo Theme from Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra
2. Reverie
3. One For Milton
Produced by Stanley Jordan and Al Pryor
