Steve Khan-Tightrope (1977)

Greatly admired by his peers, virtuoso guitarist Steve Khan is one of the jazz musicians who has most frequently participated in recording sessions for other artists. In the past, Khan was a permanent or occasional member of legendary groups such as Weather Report, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Steely Dan, Elements, and Caribbean Jazz Project. His impressive resume also includes hundreds of recordings for artists of the caliber of the Becker Brothers, George Benson, Billy Cobham, Aretha Franklin, Bob James, Billy Joel, Lou Rawls, and Grover Washington Jr. On his own, he has released around thirty albums, beginning with "Two For The Road" in 1977, a magnificent duo album with guitarist Larry Coryell, featuring a repertoire of jazz standards. Later that same year, Steve Khan released one of the best jazz fusion/rock albums of the 1970s. On "Tightrope", Khan enlisted various musicians from the New York jazz scene, including the Brecker brothers, Randy and Michael, David Sanborn, Ralph MacDonald, Steve Gadd, David Spinozza, and Will Lee, in addition to Bob James' production. This album is a perfect treatise on jazz fusion, where Khan's virtuosic guitar playing blends seamlessly with the instrumental contributions of all his talented collaborators. The album's repertoire ranges from jazz-funk pieces like "Some Punk Funk" to smooth jazz tracks such as "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)", as well as the jazz-rock of "Tightrope", the West Coast jazz of "The Big Ones", the elegant melodies of "Soft Summer Breeze", and forays into avant-garde jazz with "Star Chamber".