Improvisations: Best Of Vanguard Years

Larry Coryell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B00002069M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #163,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent compo, December 13, 2000

By 

Worgelm "The Grumpy" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Improvisations: Best Of Vanguard Years (Audio CD)

There are those who are recommending the more concise _Essential Coryell_ - but its all contained here. I hear a lot of "unnecessary" and "dated" being used to describe this stuff. People - jazz fusion itself is a dated genre. Let's not throw out the Mahavishnu with the bathwater just because you don't like the synth tones, 'kay ?

Disc 1 displays the more eclectic and contemplative side of Coryell, with some straight-ahead jazz, blues, and classical influences. "Lady Coryell" in particular is an interesting composition, with Coryell's subdued tones contrasting with angular, somewhat dissonant riffing. "Rene's Theme" from the superb _Spaces_ also appears here, with Coryell trading furious acoustic riffs with John McLaughlin.

Disc 2 seems to be more oriented towards the shred audience - the playing is far more aggressive, almost Hendrix-ian at times. The furious three-way battles between trumpet, keyboard and Coryell's slashing guitar on "Yin" is a definite highlight of this set, and most reminiscent of latter-day Mahavishnu Orchestra (around _Visions of The Emerald Beyond_)or Return To Forever. "The Jam With Albert" and "Entardecendo En Saudade" from _Live At The Village Gate_ are also excellent Hendrix-meets-jazz numbers and display a side of Coryell fans of side 1 may not be prepared for.

All in all a good disc; although his impact on jazz as a whole may be questionable, Coryell's contributions to the fusion genre are undebatable and this is an excellent, comprehensive taste of what he had to offer. Highly recommended to any fans of 70s fusion.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pioneering Guitar, December 31, 1999

By 

Gregory Edwards (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Improvisations: Best Of Vanguard Years (Audio CD)

If you were to ask guitar fans who Larry Coryell was, you might get a puzzled look. But the truth is, Coryell was one of the best rock guitarists ever. With the exception of a couple players, he was virtually untouchable. Playing with an unique choppy and sloppy syle, Coryell was the first to blend rock sensibilities with complex jass voicings to create what is now referred to as "fusion".

With this retrospective album, you will be able to look into the beginnings of fusion as Coryell goes from his early roots in rock to the style of jazz that he would devote himself to for the next thirty years. Hers's your chance to listen to some of the best licks in the business for one of the best guitarist in the business.

This album is a must for guitar lovers.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GET THIS ALBUM !, December 27, 1999

By 

CORYELLFAN (UNITED STATES) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Improvisations: Best Of Vanguard Years (Audio CD)

This is a great anthology of larry coryell's early groundbreaking Jazz fusion recordings. Vanguard has been criminal over the years in the contrary way they have reissued larry coryell's early solo recordings and recordings with Eleventh house on cd, but this anthology more than makes up for this. This anthology combines the best of his early work from coryell and lady coryell albums all the way up to his work with eleventh house on the way it showcases his work with musicians like Bernard purdie,Chuck rainey Chick corea, John mclaughlin and of course Eleventh House ( Mike mandel Micheal Lawrence randy brecker danny trifan and Alphonse mouzon. The tracks have all been remastered for release and include liner notes by Sam Graham & Josef Woodward.