I saw Coryell play this at Blues Alley in Washington in the late eighties while on tour with Bireli Lagrene and Al Dimeola. I’ve never forgotten that performance. It was such an unlikely solo guitar piece and such a virtuoso and passionate performance. It makes me so happy to find this video after all these years.
What a privilege it is to get to watch this. The Essence of the Gershwin concert-piece is here, and whatever uniquely guitaristic flourishes Coryell throws in detracts from the source material not at all. Larry Coryell is not only a consummate virtuoso, he is also a consummate performer, and the two, especially in the Jazz world, do not always coincide: Coryell, perhaps the first really important post-Rock Jazz guitarist, understands that some people in his audience will get his virtuosity, and some will get his "intensity..." ...and he's fine with either manner of connection. (Addendum, 2 years later) Coryell and John McLaughlin, on different sides of the Atlantic, more-or-less invented "fusion" guitar-playing in the very late '60's... I love Mahavishnu John, but I can't imagine him doing something like this. (I can imagine, however, Tommy Emmanuel doing a treatment of this Gershwin masterpiece, and I hope he does.)
tuxguys yr absolutely right..I love,j.mc..and p.martino..holdsworth..Pavo..al..more so as I’ve got older....but only Larry could do this like this...the beauty of every soul’s uniqueness..cheers
never knew this even existed. This easily rivals Kazuhito Yamashita's Pictures at an Exhibition in shear "balls" alone that it took to do this. Interestingly they have played together in the past (Vivaldi).
Larry's solo guitar work was just wonderful and outstanding... thanks so much for putting this one up. I never thought I would see his playing of Rhapsody. Very sad loss.
Enjoyable video. Great Larry note at 2.42. Someone could conceivably put together something like a 10cd boxset of Larry from his 100 odd albums as a tribute, but I guess that's not so likely to happen when cds don't sell. On the other hand, Larry's slightly crazy playing was probably better in concert than on record. So videos like this may be the best tribute. "Toronto Under The Sign Of Capricorn" and "Bolero" were others of his solo acoustic party pieces.
Amazing! Made my day seeing this post! Any idea where it is from? I saw him in 90 at a little bar in Columbus, and always dreamed there may be a video (or even audio) that existed, capturing the life changing magic I witnessed that night :)
Coryell is like the professor of the guitar. He never gets the recognition he deserves. RIP, Bud.
He's never been underrated by me! 😀
I saw Coryell play this at Blues Alley in Washington in the late eighties while on tour with Bireli Lagrene and Al Dimeola. I’ve never forgotten that performance. It was such an unlikely solo guitar piece and such a virtuoso and passionate performance. It makes me so happy to find this video after all these years.
I’ve just watched the whole thing again and must pronounce it to be one of the greatest solo guitar performances of all time.
Discovered him 1976. Why was he so underated? RIP Maestro
Larry Coryell was the best fusion guitarist ever!
In that regard, he was even better than the legendary and immortal Howard Roberts!
LC looks so happy! I would be too! Actually, as I watch this again, I AM happy!
One of the greats.
Visto a Milano Teatro Cristallo in quel periodo. Travolgente ❤
Amazing...
...so this is..talent..to be gifted..Larry is like an orchestra..painting Gershwin’s New York..I had never seen this before...thanks for posting
This is fuckin' amazing. RIP Larry.
Rest in Play
What a privilege it is to get to watch this.
The Essence of the Gershwin concert-piece is here, and whatever uniquely guitaristic flourishes Coryell throws in detracts from the source material not at all.
Larry Coryell is not only a consummate virtuoso, he is also a consummate performer, and the two, especially in the Jazz world, do not always coincide:
Coryell, perhaps the first really important post-Rock Jazz guitarist, understands that some people in his audience will get his virtuosity, and some will get his "intensity..."
...and he's fine with either manner of connection.
(Addendum, 2 years later)
Coryell and John McLaughlin, on different sides of the Atlantic, more-or-less invented "fusion" guitar-playing in the very late '60's...
I love Mahavishnu John, but I can't imagine him doing something like this.
(I can imagine, however, Tommy Emmanuel doing a treatment of this Gershwin masterpiece, and I hope he does.)
tuxguys yr absolutely right..I love,j.mc..and p.martino..holdsworth..Pavo..al..more so as I’ve got older....but only Larry could do this like this...the beauty of every soul’s uniqueness..cheers
never knew this even existed. This easily rivals Kazuhito Yamashita's Pictures at an Exhibition in shear "balls" alone that it took to do this. Interestingly they have played together in the past (Vivaldi).
Larry's solo guitar work was just wonderful and outstanding... thanks so much for putting this one up. I never thought I would see his playing of Rhapsody. Very sad loss.
Enjoyable video. Great Larry note at 2.42. Someone could conceivably put together something like a 10cd boxset of Larry from his 100 odd albums as a tribute, but I guess that's not so likely to happen when cds don't sell. On the other hand, Larry's slightly crazy playing was probably better in concert than on record. So videos like this may be the best tribute. "Toronto Under The Sign Of Capricorn" and "Bolero" were others of his solo acoustic party pieces.
BRAVO !!!!
Amazing! Made my day seeing this post! Any idea where it is from? I saw him in 90 at a little bar in Columbus, and always dreamed there may be a video (or even audio) that existed, capturing the life changing magic I witnessed that night :)
Boring