If you have been reading this blog over it's year or so of existance, you can tell I like a lot of different guitarists and styles of music. In the early 70's, I became a fan of the Jazz guitarist, Larry Coryell. He was originally a rock guitarist from the Seattle area, but had a real background in classical music and started to play jazz at an early age. His first serious Jazz gig was with the Drummer, Chico Hamilton who at that time also had the Hungarian guitarist, Gabor Szabo in his band. They made an interesting pair, Gabors sparse European accoustic sound and Coryells more electric rock and blues oriented sound. He went on to Record with Herbie Mann on the extremely popular Jazz breakthrough record, Memphis Underground. That was another amazing 2 guitarist band, but this time it was a pre free jazz version of Sonny Sharrock, another of my all time very favorite players.
Coryell recorded with a lot of different players and began to issue his own solo albums. He briefly formed a band called Free Spirits with Jack Bruce after the break up of Cream. His work on Offering, Gypsy Queen, and the brilliant Spaces album forged the basis of the Fusion Jazz/Rock of the 70's.
Spaces would be a great album to listen to if you ever have the opportunity. He became friends with John McGlauglin and introduced him to an American audience. The members of the band are McGlauglin (soon to be Mahavishnu Orchestra), Billy Cobham on drums, Mirslav Vitous(Weather Report) on Bass, Chick Corea on Keyboards and of course Coryell. For all the heavy weight musicians who later went on to create earthquakes of their own, this is a light almost accoustic record that truly lives up to its title!He formed the very influential band The Eleventh House with Michael Brecker and Alphonse Mouzon...a really great ground breaking fusion band that played constantly for 5 years. I know because I saw them many times in that period!
During the 80's, Coryell went back ot accoustic music and more traditional jazz forms. He has two sons which carry on the the tradition. Julian is a superstar in Japan!
He's still making music and the piece I have chosen for this post is an accoustic solo version of Ravels Bolero, a great feat of arranging and technique.
I think Coryell is one of Americas greatest contemporary musicians and one of its best kept secrets!
2 comments:
I love Coryell. I discovered him about 10 years ago when I was going through a heavy jazz musical phase. Thanks for the post - I'm going to go dig up my Spaces CD somewhere in the garage and rip it to my ITunes.
By the way, there's a new blog in town, in case you're interested.
Zappadan is quickly approaching, n'est-ce pas?
Commandante, thanks for the Zappadan reminder, though I have been thinking about the upcoming Freak Fest!
I have been restraining myself from posting Zappa material so as not to spoil the celebration.
Regarding Coryell...I even had a fat asses Gibson L-5 with the f holes and the elegant florentine cut away just like Coryell used to play.
If you want to see what that monster could do, check out the Jazz Composers Orchestra Recording by Michael Mantler.
There are long orchestral passages written for blocks of elephantine feedback provided by Coryell and a full orchestra....
I had mine set up with super slinkies leading future guitarist for Ornette Coleman, Bernie Nix to remark, "Man, that's like putting racing slicks on a Rolls Royce!"
With those skinny little strings, all you had to do was look at the guitar and it would start to feed back!
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