Customer Reviews

Eleventh House With Larry Coryell

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't get this version, make a few more mouse clicks & find the REMASTERED import version with 3 bonus tracks & pay the 2 or 3 dollars extra for that & be even more blown away, it's worth every penny. Far from being forgettable, the tracks "Cover Girl" & "Rocks" are as burning as fusion gets & as crazy as Mouzon gets on drums! Mouzon & Cobham are the reigning king monsters of all 1970s drummers.

Also, if you like this recording pick up "Barefoot Boy" by Coryell which is even better. Then go over to John Etheridge & Rick Sanders 2nd-Vision if you want to find a really obscure fusion album that ranks up with the best ever made by anyone.

peace

hm

Larry Coryell stands on equal footing with John McLaughlin as one of the premier jazz fusion guitarist and this probably represents his finest achievement. Many people consider his earlier work with McLaughlin, 'Spaces' as writing the textbook for fusion style guitarwork, but to me, this is his greatest overall musical achievement. Comparisons to the original Mahavishnu Orchestra may seem to be inevitable considering the power and attack of the band's performance, but stylistically, the band plays much closer to the fusion/funk style of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters. Their is not as much of an eastern influence as the Mahavishnu Orchestra and there seems to be a wider variety of tempo and stylistic diversity on this recording. The synthesizer runs and Randy Brecker's trumpet keep pace rather well with Coryell's intensity and the compositional framework is elaborate and melodically sophisticated. But the highlight, of course, is the blitzkrieg of notes being pummelled out of Coryell's guitar mostly trading with synthesizer and trumpet, intermingled with more mid tempo improvisations; but the dynamics and interaction feature not just beautifully intricate work, but ingenious melodic and harmonic scales befitting musicians of the highest technical accomplishment. This is probably the most technically perfect fusion recording I have ever heard; a joyous and awesome performance!

All must boiw to the guitar of Larry Coryell and his 70's band Elevth House. This is ensemble action at its highest with Coryell's incredibly fast unison lines with trumpeter Randy Brecker, Mike Mandel's slightly dated keyboard sound, yet you can tell the talent is there and Alphonse Mouzon's dramatic speedy playing and also when playing with bassist Danny Trifan. A great rhythm section. If you find this you must buy it.

Kirk Mueller

The Eleventh House give me my first introduction to fusion in the 1970s. Fast and ballsy, Coryell and company literally blow away other fusion bands of that period. The musicianship is first rate and the material has held up well over time. For introducing the world to fusion, it's time that Larry Coryell gets the recognition that he deserves.

That's what good fusion is all about - a tasty brew of funk, rock, jazz - throw in some je-ne-sais-quoi, and you've got it. Larry certainly has it down pat, even if his guitar technique is far from perfect, he has plenty of fresh ideas and imagination. I actually started to like funk after listening to this album (used to hate it). Must have for any fusion fan.

Coryell's more rocking fusion, as demonstrated on this album, is some of his finest work. One of the beautiful aspects of the fusion movement was it's tendancy to draw jazz musicians into an intensity that straight jazz rarely affords them. Sure, I love the grace and elegance, class, beauty and style that jazz gives us that you can't find in any other kind of music. But, fusion draws these talented musicians into that head-on, no-holds-barred power and intensity that gives a more dynamic personality that can otherwise be lacking. And when Coryell came into the fusion movement that he helped to create, along with John McLaughlin and Miles Davis, he did it with flare, the needed power and elegance, a grand mixture of sophistication and the casual attitude, driving rock and funk that gives fusion accessability to the common man. His guitar on this album sounds raw, gritty, strong and rocking. He is truly one of the guitar greats. And if you need a rockin' base to appreciate that, then this album provides that for you. The line-up is similar to The Mahavishnu Orchestra (guitar, keyboards, drums, bass), except he has Randy Brecker on trumpet instead of a violinist. Randy's playing on this album is strong, and he does a few good solos, but he's not allowed to step out as much as trumpeters on later EH albums, and I think Frank Zappa tested Randy's talent more when he was in The Mothers with his brother Michael. Of course, Alphonse Mouson is the other most noted and remembered musician from this band. Alphonse is an amazing drummer, as you will hear on this recording. Compositions on this album are very good, not as extensive or intricate as Mahavishnu Orchestra or Return to Forever, but fusion was still very young when this album came out. And, there is some great fusion here. This is a beautifully conceived and executed piece of rock/funk/jazz fusion from the mind of one of the great pioneers of the genre, Larry Coryell, a supurb guitarist who definitely delivers the goods on this ground-breaking album.

Mountains of Funk. Listen to "Adam Smasher", there is Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, and Trumpet with a wah-wah pedal on it all going at the same time! How much funkier can it get?

I may be prejudiced with my review, because I attended a small club on Sunset Strip, the year that Larry Coryell put out this album. I sat at a large table to the left of the stage. Their was 2 empty chairs in front of me. When Larry Coryell took a break, he sat at one of these chairs, RIGHT in front of me and my female companion. I was in AWE!!! I talked to him, in an strange moment, and he responded by saying that he was glad that we came to see our band. I told him how much I LOVED his guitar and the band. He responded, positively. When he went back on stage, we were AMAZED that LARRY CORYELL talked to us. DAMN! I NEVER got an autograph! Never the less, the concert was beyond belief!! Brilliant! Just astounding, especially Larry and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. I have NEVER, besides Carmine Appice, from Vanilla Fudge, ever witnessed a drummer of the effect of Mouzan! He was BRILLIANT, and addicting, as was Larry's guitar playing!

THIS album is EXACTLY played, and performed, as I had witnessed in that club. PERFECT JAZZ/ROCK! Absolute perfection,beyond belief for me. This is what jazz/rock fans have GOT to HAVE!!! Buy it, friends, you will NOT be disappointed to ANY degree! And find the original Larry Coryell album. BOY, will you be entertained in SO many ways! Larry is at his BEST!

at the bluebird in bloomington indiana. i was only 18 at the time but got in with a xerox copy of a friends draft card. guess they at least thought it was funny. what a show. this cd brings back a lot of good memories. a mahavishnu fan as well but this one is equal to the best that they did.

What an excellent cd!!!!!!!The band is top notch!!!!!! Especially Randy Brecker on trumpet and Larry Coryell on guitar, not to mention Alphonze Mouzon on drums!!!!!!! Some pieces are reminiscent of early Mahavishnu Orchestra. If are into 70`s fusion, don`t hesitate and buy it!!!!! Highly recommended!!!!!!!