The Coryells

Guitarist Larry Coryell was one of the fathers of jazz-fusion--he presided over a shotgun wedding of electric jazz improvisation and rock dynamics. Since, he's played in a variety of styles and contexts, from funk to unaccompanied acoustic. After several albums of mainstream electric playing, Coryell gets back to the acoustic format here, this time in a group with his sons playing acoustic as well. (Moreover, this album re-unites him with powerhouse drummer Alphonse Mouzon, who played in his 11th House band in the '70s.) Coryell has a fiery, forceful approach to the acoustic guitar--imagine a cross between Django Reinhardt and Jimi Hendrix. With subtle flamenco, folk, and blues influences in his playing, Coryell and sons (with Mouzon on percussion and Brian Torff on bass) present a superb set of chamber jazz. His son Murali sings on a few songs--accenting and paying tribute to the blues element in jazz--in a genial, raspy voice (not unlike Eric Clapton's). The playing of Brian Torff is round and sinuous, never fading into the background. THE CORYELLS is full of vigorous playing and sharp, concise group interplay.|