A couple of years ago Larry Carlton made an intentionally demo-quality LP called Four Hands and a Heart, Volume One, a record that has something for guitar enthasiasts, early Carlton fans and recent, curious Carlton fans alike. The stripped down, slowed down arrangements presented the super session guitarist in a new light, and the Grammy folks in turn rewarded him with his 19th award nomination.
Having the words “Volume One” in the album title is a heavy hint that a likeminded followup is coming, and now, you could say that one did arrive. Four Hands And A Heart Christmas continues the approach of recording a lead guitar track overdubbed on a rhythm harmony track, an occasional synth backdrop and with the simple, programmed percussion only appearing on one track (“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”). Only this time, instead of re-recording vintage Carlton tunes, Mr. 335 dives into the Christmas canon for material.
This yuletide collection of tunes gets started with “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” played not with any note stuffing or wildly alternate harmonics, but with richness of tone, preciseness of note placement, small, tasty asides and — most important for the non-fretheads — a heartfelt fealty to the classic melody.
Carlton, who twenty-five years ago released Christmas At My House, is putting us in the Christmas spirit again with a lot of skill and sentiment channeled through six strings.
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