Mosaic Contemporary
1983
Wishful Thinking
About This Album
Wishful Thinking was recorded in 1983 and 1984, just before Earl Klugh left Capitol Records for the greener pastures of Warner Bros. in 1985. What makes the album compelling -- despite its brief running time, clocking in a bit over 36 minutes -- is that it is a summation, really, of all the places Klugh had been as a player and composer. A self-produced effort, it showcases his wonderfully rhythmic, deeply melodic gift on an acoustic nylon-stringed guitar. From his earliest days with Blue Note almost a decade earlier, Klugh brought something truly different to the table. His sound was rooted in blues, but elegantly and sparely articulated. He brought a soul-jazz approach to everything he touched, but wasn't afraid to allow classical music into his approach; he also looked toward the music of film score composers like Michel Legrand and John Williams in bringing out a certain textured shade of emotion that is on display here like a rainbow after a storm. There are small-ensemble pieces, such as the title track with Eric Gale playing gorgeous fills to Klugh's enchanting melody. Then there's the calypso-flavored "Tropical Legs," with bassist Lucio Hopper and percussionist Sammy Figueroa bringing in a solid yet breezy backbeat over which Klugh, electric guitarist Carlos Rios, and keyboardist Barry Eastmond interact fluidly.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,5,6 and 7)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

 
report abuse