Larry Coryell - Larry Coryells Last Swing With Ireland '2021

Tracks list

In his latter life, Larry Coryell was a frequent visitor to Ireland, where he
would invariably hitch up with bassist David Redmond and drummer Kevin Brady,
the esteemed rhythm team for the likes of Tommy Halferty, Bill Carrothers, Norma
Winstone and Ian Shaw. In May 2016, during Coryells last trip to Ireland, he
entered Dublins Hellfire Studios, with Redmond and Brady, to record what would
be his final studio album. At around forty-five minutes in duration, Larry
Coyells Last Swing In Ireland, is a compact affair by todays sometimes bloated
standards, but it is a high-quality session, and one absolutely bristling with
energy.
Perhaps best known as the blazing jazz-rock guitarist of Free Spirits and
Eleventh House, Coryell was also an outstanding acoustic practitioner, as
witnessed on his collaborations with Emily Remler, Badi Assad, John Abercrombie,
Philip Catherine and, briefly, in the trio with John McLaughlin and Paco De
Lucia. Here, Coryell makes his acoustic guitar sing sweetly on the
brushes-steered In a Sentimental Mood, the crawling pace of this Charlie
Byrd-esque interpretation accentuating the finesse behind the guitarists every
note. Equally captivating is the trios laid back, acoustic reading of Luiz
Bonfás Morning of the Carnival, where Coryell traverses the strings poles
from caressing, bluesy minimalism to lightning-fast runs. As Coryells flames
recede, Bradys washing cymbals sigh like softly breaking waves.

The rest of the set sees Coryell switch to electric guitar. Redmonds
fast-walking bass courses through Charlie Parkers Relaxin at Camarillo, a
charged bop workout led from pillar to post by an animated Coryell. Spurred on
by Bradys combustible rhythms, the guitarist revels in a brilliant extended solo
that arguably references Kenny Burrell—a formative influence—more
so than Parker.

Like Parker, Coryell admired Igor Stravinsky, so much so that he recorded an
entire album, LOiseau de Feu, Petrouchka, (Philips, 1983) in homage to that
giant of 20th century classical music. On the intro to Someday My Prince Will
Come, over a metronomic bass pulse, the guitarist tips a wink to the Russian
composer with quotations from The Firebird Suite and Rite of Spring. Redmond and
Brady both shine on this elegantly rendered standard.

There are two freshly minted Coryell originals: The Last Peavey—with
Redmond switching to churning electric bass—is a ballsy, blues-rock
workout. Coryell is in imperious form here, and, judging by his roars, fully
invested in the task at hand. Bradys solo spot, with Coryell comping, is an
added adrenaline rush. 369 is a slower but no less intense affair. Redmonds
terrific double bass ostinato provides an even keel for Coryells soloing, which
exhibits strands of the psychedelic, blues, rock and jazz milieu from which he
emerged in the 1960s. Brady and then Redmond step up before the trio returns to
the head.
By turns refined and passionate, historically grounded yet with contemporary
wings, Larry Coryells Last Swing With Ireland is a fine closing statement from
one of the great jazz guitarists of the past half century. Much of the credit
for that is due to Redmond and Brady, consummate musicians both, who dovetail
with Coryell as though the three had been playing together all their
professional lives.

In a Sentimental Mood; Morning of the Carnival; Relaxin’ at the
Camarillo; Someday my Prince Will Come; The Last Peavey; 369.

Personnel
Larry Coryell: guitar; Dave Redmond [ bassist]: bass, acoustic; Kevin Brady:
drums.

Tracklist:
1 01. Larry Coryell - In A Sentimental Mood (10:30)
1 02. Larry Coryell - Morning Of The Carnival (06:42)
1 03. Larry Coryell - Relaxin At The Camarillo (06:31)
1 04. Larry Coryell - Someday My Prince Will Come (06:43)
1 05. Larry Coryell - The Last Peavey (09:03)
1 06. Larry Coryell - 369 (06:34)

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