Guitarist
Larry Coryell hails from the generation of musicians that in the mid-sixties put up the scaffolding of jazz-rock. In 1965 Coryell founded The Free Spirits. The band could be described as Blood, Sweat & Tears ‘avant la lettre’, a jazzy pop group featuring saxophonist Jim Pepper, with Coryell playing the part of the singer-songwriter. At the beginning of the seventies Coryell founded the historical The Eleventh House, a jazz-rock formation in the same league as monumental bands like John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra and Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. During the mid-seventies Coryell decided to unplug his guitar and he ventured into acoustic projects. His transcriptions of complete works by Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov rank among the most remarkable productions. In the new millennium the guitarist focused on the guitar-bass-drums formula with musicians like Mark Egan (bass) and Paul Wertico (drums). On his new album
Electric he plays with
Victor Bailey and former Return to Forever drummer
Lenny White, the two musicians with whom he also performs at North Sea Jazz 2006. Bailey, who after the death of Jaco Pastorius seemingly effortlessly succeeded to his throne, is one of the best contemporary electric bassists. After leaving Chick Corea, Lenny White made a name for himself with his subtle swinging style in the Griffith Park and Echoes of An Era All Star groups, in which he performed with Chaka Khan and Joe Henderson.
