Touch of Silk is the sixth solo album by American jazz guitarist Eric Gale, originally released in 1980 on Columbia Records. The album is known for its soul-jazz and fusion sound, largely produced and arranged by the legendary Allen Toussaint.
Key Collaborators and Production
The album's sound is heavily influenced by its esteemed production team and guest musicians.
• Producer/Arranger: Allen Toussaint produced five of the seven cuts, bringing a "swamp funk" vibe to the project, according to Quincy Jones's liner notes.
• Recording/Engineering: Many tracks were recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with Rudy Van Gelder himself engineering and mixing several songs.
• Guest Musicians: The album features a stellar lineup, including:
o Grover Washington Jr. (tenor and soprano saxophone) on "With You I'm Born Again".
o Arthur Blythe and Harold Vick (saxophones) on "Au Privave".
o Charles Earland (organ) and Idris Muhammad (drums) on certain tracks.
o Steve Gadd and Harvey Mason also contributed on drums for some parts of the recording sessions that also included tracks for the Part of You album.
Reception
Touch of Silk has been described as having a rootsier feel compared to Gale's previous work, with critics praising Gale's soulful guitar sound and expressiveness. Reviewers at Jazzwise note the album highlights why Gale was a first-call session musician for many soul greats, from Aretha Franklin to Michael Jackson.
AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars and stated: “Gale is a consummate soloist, full of lilting and biting grooves, with stunning phrasing that maximizes the rhythmic effect of his high strings (such as on "War Paint"), and he never plays an extra note.”