Budget-Priced Introduction to Fusion Guitar Innovator
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/12/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In 1969 Miles Davis recorded his groundbreaking album BITCHES BREW. The same year a 25-year old Larry Coryell recorded his Vanguard debut CORYELL. While maybe not the household name that Davis is, Coryell was a major influence on the whole fusion, jazz-rock music scene from its infancy.
This 10-song collection begins with "Stiff Neck" (one of three tracks from LADY CORYELL), which has Coryell on electric guitar backed only by drummer Elvin Jones. The final track, "Theme from a Dream" (one of four tracks from INTRODUCING THE 11th HOUSE), again has Coryell on electric guitar alongside Randy Brecker (trumpet), Alphonse Mouzon (percussion), Mike Mandell (piano and synthesizer) and Danny Trifan (bass). The only other Vanguard albums represented here (and he recorded 12 from 1969 to 1979) are two songs that clock in at more than nine minutes each: "The Jam with Albert" from his debut, and "Spaces (Infinite)" from 1974's SPACES, which has Coryell trading solos with John McLaughlin (along with Chick Corea on electric piano, Miroslav Vitous on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums).
The only acoustic track is from the 1978 album STANDING OVATION (Coryell plays 6- and 12-string Ovation guitars on the entire album--hence the title). Suprisingly, this is not a Vanguard recording. It was recorded in Germany on the Mood Records label and distributed by Arista in the United States. Coryell's solo performance on this number shows another facet of playing style. [It's unclear why they didn't use a track from 1975's THE RESTFUL MIND where Coryell also plays some fine acoustic guitar alongside labelmates Ralph Towner, Collin Walcott and Glen Moore (all members of OREGON)].
While all but "Birdfingers" and "Theme for a Dream" are included on 1999's 2-disc anthology IMPROVISATIONS: BEST OF THE VANGUARD YEARS, this is a fine introduction to a gifted guitarist. [Running Time - 59:43] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
