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Take Your Pick Scores Grammy Nomination

“Take Your Pick” has been nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on February 13th, 2011 at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

Nashville, TN – At the 2011 Grammy Nominations Ceremony, Larry Carlton’s collaboration album with Tak Matsumoto, "Take Your Pick" (released by 335 Records), received a nomination for the Best Pop Instrumental Album (a category Larry Carlton is familiar with, as his “Greatest Hits” was nominated in 2008). This nomination marks Larry’s nineteenth (which included his three previous Grammy wins), and it is Tak’s first.

“Not only is the record label humbled, but both guitarists (Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto) are extremely honored to be part of such a prestigious event,” says Robert Williams, CEO of 335 Records, Inc.

"Take Your Pick" is no stranger to praise. Considered "one of the most significant collaborations of contemporary guitar of all time," "Take Your Pick" has acquired numerous positive reviews, shot up the smooth jazz charts to #3, and has sold thousands of copies since its release last summer. The first single from “Take Your Pick,” “Tokyo Night,” debuted on Japan’s charts at #2. The album also just won the award for Best Contemporary Jazz album of the year in Japan. 

About Larry Carlton: 
Larry Carlton, half of the collaborative efforts on "Take Your Pick," could be considered a good luck charm, although one cannot support a forty year career of consistent success with mere luck. Larry’s incredible talent and skill has attracted the likes of artists from every genre, such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Paul Anka, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Jerry Garcia and Dolly Parton. With 30 albums, television themes and film soundtracks to his credit, and having performed on over 100 albums that have gone Gold or Platinum, Larry Carlton has set a standard for artistry that spans four decades. As for the future, Larry doesn’t plan on losing any steam. 

About Tak Matsumoto: 
Championed in his homeland as the most renowned guitarist in all of Asia, Tak has a talent of creating songs with storytelling melodies, filled and full of Asian taste and beautiful scenery. He is equally revered as chief songwriter, guitarist and producer of the Japanese rock band, B'z. Counting a legacy of 16 albums, B'z truly means big business, having sold a combined 80 million units in Japan alone, not surprisingly making them Japan's best-selling band in history. In 1999 Tak was given his own Signature Model Les Paul by Gibson and was added to Gibson's signature artist club. He is the only guitarist from Asia to be added to the club. 

Both guitarists have been previously honored with their own stars on the famous Hollywood RockWalk. 
Larry has much in store for 2011, and was recently invited to the Wave Awards on April 29th in Ontario Canada, in which Carlton will receive the George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award.