Jazzy Bullets at Blue Note Tokyo A Grammy Winning Collaboration Brought to Life on Stage
The live performance of Jazzy Bullets by Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto at Blue Note Tokyo in 2010 represents a rare and carefully documented moment in modern guitar history. Drawn from the DVD release Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto Live 2010 Take Your Pick at Blue Note Tokyo, the performance captures the on stage realization of a collaboration that had already earned the highest international recognition.
Earlier that year, Carlton and Matsumoto received the award for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the fifty third Grammy Awards for their joint studio album Take Your Pick. The achievement was significant not only for the artists involved, but also for what it represented culturally. It marked a successful partnership between two leading guitarists from the United States and Japan, each with a long and respected career, coming together on equal artistic ground.
Jazzy Bullets stands as one of the defining tracks from the album. The composition blends smooth jazz phrasing with sharp rhythmic precision, allowing both guitarists to maintain their individual identities while engaging in a balanced musical dialogue. In the Blue Note Tokyo performance, this balance becomes even more apparent. Rather than competing for attention, Carlton and Matsumoto listen closely to one another, shaping phrases and dynamics in real time.
Larry Carlton brings his signature warmth and melodic clarity, qualities shaped by decades of studio and live work across jazz, rock, and pop. Tak Matsumoto responds with a tone that is clean, articulate, and technically refined, reflecting his background as both a solo artist and a member of B’z. The contrast between their approaches is not a point of tension, but a source of depth, giving the piece a conversational quality that feels spontaneous yet controlled.
The setting of Blue Note Tokyo plays an important role in the performance. Known for its intimate atmosphere and attentive audience, the venue allows subtle details in phrasing and tone to be fully appreciated. The performance does not rely on spectacle. Instead, it emphasizes precision, interaction, and musical respect.
This live rendition of Jazzy Bullets serves as more than a showcase for technical skill. It documents a moment when international collaboration moved beyond novelty and into genuine artistic exchange. The Grammy recognition validated the studio work, but the Blue Note Tokyo performance confirms its substance.
In presenting Jazzy Bullets on stage, Carlton and Matsumoto demonstrate how disciplined musicianship, cultural openness, and shared musical values can result in a performance that feels both refined and alive. It remains a valuable record of a collaboration that resonated globally, both in the studio and in front of a live audience.