Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather - No Substitutions: Live in Osaka

A Holiday Toast: To Ever Greater Diversity of Flora in the Forest!
(Not that there hasn't been a lot of that already, with the fortuitious addition of all the lovely trees recently planted by arlopop), but this here is so absolutely, thoroughly, and patently uncool (to haters), that you might think I've decided to start off the New Year by getting my Froxx membership permanently revoked.

Nevertheless, a fellow musician from the workplace recently handed me this at a holiday party, where we were comparing notes on our favorite great guitarists of all time. Turns out we didn't have a whole lot in common, except a great love of music and a whole lot of respect for technique, but we eventually found common ground in the person of Larry Carlton, who you may know as the guy who did all those timeless guitar solos for Steely Dan. Add to that Steve Lukather, who did most of those screaming solos for Michael Jackson's hit singles, and you have the essence of this here record.

"Here", he said, excitedly handing it to me from his car at the curbside in the subzero Chicago night. "This may not be your cup of tea", he continued, "but this shit simply SHREDS!"

And I have to admit that he's 100% correct on both counts...

Guitar and All Good Music writes: Lighting-fast phrases, spectacular solos, and soothing statements abound in this first ever "live" collaboration by two guitar icons.
Larry Carlton on the left side and Steve Lukather on the right side
are astounding on No Substitutions: Live in Osaka.

This was the first recorded onstage collaboration of the guitarists, even though they had met nearly 25 years before performing in a club environment, and their first-take energy comes through loud and clear. Joined by drummer Gregg Bissonette, keyboardist Rick Jackson, and bassist Chris Kent, the award-winning guitarists perform a no-holds-barred set on five extended tunes that range from a 14-minute version of Jeff Beck's "The Pump" to the legendary Miles Davis tune "All Blues" and Carlton's signature piece, "Room 335."

The tremendous interaction between Carlton and Lukather works extremely well on "All Blues," their frets working together in melodic harmony while displaying their original musical personalities. Amplified rock licks bring this song to another level that is devoid of any riffs in vogue on the jazz scene. However, Carlton and Lukather do remain true to the song's original series of five scales, and each solos until they've completed the series.

This is one awesome blowing date and is highly recommended for all true rock and fusion fans whether you were there or not.

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