For You Lot Larry Coryell - 1978 [2017] European Impressions

This record, one-half of which was recorded alive at the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival, remains i of the finest documents inwards the genre of steel-string acoustic jazz guitar. Along alongside John McLaughlin, Al DiMeola, as well as a pocket-sized handful of others, Larry Coryell was a major figure inwards the field, which saw its heyday throughout much of the '70s as well as '80s. Here was a novel sort of guitar hero, non wailing inwards front end of a wall of Marshall amps, but sitting lonely alongside an acoustic guitar (often a round-backed Ovation), playing music rooted inwards the improvisational aesthetics of jazz but which oftentimes veered all over the stylistic map -- classical, flamenco, 12-tone, rock, as well as but close anything else. Coryell's opening statement, "Toronto Under the Sign of Capricorn," fits the neb to a T: Beginning alongside cryptic, atonal lines as well as rhythmically off-kilter phrases, the slice as well as hence segues into a slow, romantic tune earlier it erupts into a rousing vamp punctuated alongside flurries of speed-picked, 16th-note fills. The surgical operation is replete alongside showmanship, but that's non all at that spot is to it; indeed, Coryell's technique is likewise rough-hewn to live on thrilling all on its own. What makes the slice hence interesting is its melodic integrity, rhythmic energy, as well as three-tiered structure. One hears similar qualities on the other 2 alive tracks, "For Philip as well as Django" as well as "Rodrigo Reflections," as well as on 3 of the 4 studio cuts, "April Seventh," "Variations on a Theme," as well as the wonderfully dreamy "Copenhagen Impressions." While i may facial expression a reversion to straight-ahead jazz on the Horace Silver medley "Song for My Father/Sister Sadie," Coryell doggedly remolds these difficult bop standards into his ain form of acoustic guitar music. Essential for guitar buffs, although i has to dig approximately to locate a copy.

This album is soundless some other acoustic guitar album that LC has gotten us used to inwards the belatedly 70's, as well as hither one-half the tape is a recording of his 3rd appearance at the Montreux festival inwards the summertime of 78. The offset fourth dimension approximately (71), he had come upwardly alongside a stone group, the minute fourth dimension approximately (74), he was alongside his Eleventh House group, as well as this fourth dimension around, he came every bit a solo acoustic guitarist, i time to a greater extent than reflecting good what he was upwardly to at the time. With an alpine artwork as well as a long-haired Larry hunched over his Ovation guitar on the dorsum cover, this album is an unaccompanied lead acoustic guitar album, the typical materials LC was into inwards the belatedly 70's, somewhere betwixt Reinhardt as well as acoustic blues-jazz. Better investigate Lion & Ram album, to come across if you lot could live on into this one.

An all acoustic/instrumental album, the offset 3 tracks of which were recorded alive at Montreux.  The final 4 are studio tracks, after included on Coryell's "Tributaries" album.
H5N1 real scary album inwards that this human being is definitely a virtuoso as well as pulls all the stops on his acoustic guitar.  This most underrated guitar thespian tin sure enough exercise it all.
I wouldn't telephone telephone the studio tracks real memorable dissimilar the alive ones that are memorable, hence this is to a greater extent than of an album that has you lot appreciating the acoustic guitar to a greater extent than than appreciating the songwriting.
Everything from fiery quickness to funky subtleness.

Tracks 1 to 3 recorded alive at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland on July 23, 1978;
Tracks 4 to seven recorded at Soundmixers, NYC on August 17, 1978.

Tracks Listing

1. Toronto Under The Sign Of Capricorn (8:38)
2. For Philip And Django (4:31)
3. Rodrigo Reflections (7:21)
4. Apr Seventh (5:50)
5. Silver Medley: Song For My Father / Sister Sadie (5:22)
6. Copenhagen Impressions (4:00)
7. Variations On H5N1 Theme (2:47)

Total Time 38:29

Line-up / Musicians

- Larry Coryell / solo acoustic guitar