All About Larry Coryell, pt.4.
A few more titles to listen to and say 'Wow' to
I have a very patchy knowledge of Larry's output, so whatever is shown below is in no particular order. Just titles that I have or that I feel warrant attention.
Ron Carter In Memory of Jim
featuring Larry Coryell & Peter Bernstein
(album) 2014
Well, this is the CD that came out of that performance I was lucky enough to see, in the Tokyo Blue Note in January 2014. And it is so great and beautiful. I especially love 'Bag's Groove', and you would think that Peter's solo was the last word in cool and elegance, but than along comes Larry and delivers this amazing narrative on the fretboard. It is one of the best jazz guitar solos I've ever heard in my life.
Joy Spring (album) 2005
Love this album. Larry plays a number of standards with rare elegance and brio. In particular his rendering of 'Round Midnight is superb -listen for his extended solo cadenza.
Spaces (album)
with John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Miroslav Vitous Chick Corea
Essential listening for Larry Coryell fans. Historically important as it was one of the foundational recordings for what came to be known as jazz-fusion or jazz-rock.
Lady Coryell (album) 1969
Also historically important. Not sure about Larry's singing, though!
Coryell Bailey White (album) 2005
Cool and funky and happening. I'm sure Jimi H would approve, and Jimmy Page, too! (They do a version of 'Black Dog'.)
Power Trio Live in Chicago (album) 2003
Very happening. Cool and dynamic. Larry knew how to make good trios.
Heavy Feel (album) 2015
Kick-ass! Man, you radical! In a blind test, who would know this is from a player/composer in his seventies? Or, who would know this album wasn't put out decades earlier?
Jemin-Eye'n (song)
from Larry Coryell & Philip Catherine
Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XI (2021)
The album may have other delights, but this song in particular is so great. Their interaction and the fun and joy they generate is something else. Imagine: this was recorded just one month before Larry passed away. That is so sad, and yet aren't we so lucky that these two friends could meet one last time and make such joyful sounds?
There are so many things to explore in Larry Coryell's repertoire.
I have yet to get hold of The Coryells. Playing with his sons Julian and Murali. Wow! How happy he must have been to have nurtured such talent in his own family. Then there's all the Eleventh House stuff -we did have, and really liked, Level One. The opening track is still reverberating through my mind. Ah, there is a wonderful album I have of Larry playing with violinist Michal Urbaniak, A Quiet Day in Spring. My brother Jim saw them play together in Spain once and chatted to Larry post-gig. He was blown away by the music, and made this known to an appreciative Larry. Larry who was always ready to talk to his fans and music lovers. We also had Larry's beautiful album with Emily Remler so many years ago... By the way, for a limited period, I am allowing access to an unreleased live recording which I have come into possession of. You will need Dropbox. True fans will access it, listen to it and NOT share on the internet, I hope. Por favor. Click this.