Coryells, The

Like father, like sons, acoustic guitarist Larry Coryell and sons Julian and Murali get together for their first recorded project, and it sounds fine. Larry tends to dominate improv space, but doesn't get in the way of his kids, who are adept in their own bluesy ways. Bassist Brain Torff and percussionist Alphonse Mouzon (no drum kit, only hand drums and tambourine) join on several selections. Murali sings in his down-home, slightly affectated manner for three cuts, quite soulfully on the Rahsaan Roland Kirk lyric re: Lester Young on "Goodbye Porkpie Hat," on the original pop blues "Somebody's Got to Win-Lose," and on Al Green's simple, funk-blues "Love & Happiness." Julian has two features by himself, with Torff only on the easy two-beat "Something Pretty" and the nice waltz "Song for Emily." The hippest workout between the three occurs during the bulk of Julian's "Sink or Swim," while up and down, cascading and tumbling, waterfall crystalline-clear guitars shine on Larry's "Transparance." Two tracks are unearthed from Larry's days with the Eleventh House: the stunning "Low-Lee-Tah" is dark, moody, and ominous, with Larry playing the intricate melody first all the way through and his sons joining in with heavy embellishments and startling improvisation; "Funky Waltz" is not so much funky as the loud original, but shaded with Native American punctuations from Mouzon. Though some speedy lines crop up here and there, this is a more musical than pyrotechnical display that proves quite enjoyable throughout. A very good first step for the Coryell family's musical bonding recorded for public display, this is definitely recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos