Customer Reviews

Improvisations: Best Of Vanguard Years

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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.

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.

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.

As I write, on May 10, 2010, This 2CD set is going for $2.96, NEW! With the postage, that's still only $5.94, less than $3 for each disc. Whether a Coryell novice, or a fan with all his works, this overview of his Vanguard Records years is packed with 20bit Remastered heaven for anyone remotely interested in jazz guitar. Also well annotated, the remastering is done right, very little compression, if at all, and as noted in the liners, "the bass that was rolled off the original vinyl release(s) has been restored". The only other option to hear this material as sonically upgraded is to track down the remasters of the original albums done by Universe/Comet/Akarma Records from Italy that were available in beautiful "mini-lp" jackets around the turn of this century, that is if you can afford the out-of-print pricing, some going for over $200 new! Hurry up before this one disappears, as well......

This compilation contains some of the best jazz guitar ever in songs like Scotland I, the Jam with Albert and Yin. Unfortunately it also digs up silly tripe like Eyes of Love, Planet End, Adam Smasher and Rene's Theme. The shorter compilation, the Essential Larry Coryell is less expensive, more consistent and manifestly superior to this double CD.