Solo Guitar

Released in 1989, Solo Guitar represents a significant stylistic pivot for Earl Klugh. After a decade of defining the smooth jazz and jazz-fusion sound with heavily produced, ensemble-based records, Klugh opted for a completely solo recording. This 15th studio album serves as a testament to his technical proficiency and his roots in the Chet Atkins style of fingerpicking. The tracklist is comprised entirely of standards, ranging from Disney classics like 'Someday My Prince Will Come' to Gershwin's 'Embraceable You.' By removing the synthesizers and percussion that characterized his earlier 80s work, Klugh highlighted the 'classical' side of his jazz identity. The recording is notable for its dry, close-mic production, which avoids the heavy reverb common in the era's jazz releases. Critically, it is often cited as one of his most 'pure' artistic statements, stripping away the commercial sheen of smooth jazz to focus on the timeless architecture of the American Songbook.