Crate Digger’s Gold – Steve Khan – Evidence
I was reading a review of my new turntable and this album was mentioned. Hey I have that LP in my collection and I have not listened to it in years. I pulled it off the shelf and have been spinning it for a couple of days now.
When Kahn recorded this album he was a very LA successful studio musician (e.g. Steely Dan). I have not followed his career and this is the only album of his in my collection. I am not sure how I even decided to buy it. It was released in 1980 and my version is a cutout with a 1983 price tag – so I am guessing this was not a big hit.
This is all solo guitar – some songs have overdubs. The masterpiece for me is Kahn’s cover of Zawinul’s “In A Silent Way.” Rather than source from the more famous Miles Davis cover, Kahn goes to Zawinul’s 1971 solo album. Kahn makes the classic song his own overdubbing with half-dozen guitars. Kahn does not emphasize the obvious melody – but explores other parts of the song.
The rest of side one covers Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Randy Brecker and Horace Silver. Side two is a Thelonious Monk medley.
The recording is so great – you feel like you are in the room with Kahn and his guitars. Today recorded guitars so often sound plugged into the board rather than miked. For me that looses a lot of ambiance – I want to hear a guitar in a space and time.
A very mellow and contemplative album.