By Danny Coleman
originally published: 09/08/2016
"You know what? When you listen to non-guitar players playing solos; you'll actually learn something," says jazz rock guitarist Larry Coryell as he elaborated on that which influences him and his innovative style. "Miles Davis,Chick Corea, Andy Brecker and the great sax guy Steve Marcus have all taught me a thing or two and I'd love to say that maybe I influenced Steve a bit too; we had that kind of relationship."
Yet another in a long line of strong guitarists produced by the state of Texas; Coryell wound up honing his craft far from his hometown of Galveston as he moved at a very young age to Seattle, WA. Ah but this man who would eventually become known as a "Pioneer of jazz-rock" took a detour or two along the way; starting at age four when his mother "Introduced him to the piano" where he remained until his teens when he began playing guitar and focusing more on rock music.
Apparently struggling with his confidence, a young Coryell felt that he lacked the talent to be a full time musician and enrolled at the University of Washington in the journalism field; while still taking private guitar lessons. A move to New York City in the mid-sixties saw him immerse himself in classical guitar and this style, along with the aforementioned influences, and a fondness for rock music, had a young Larry creating a brand new genre of music whether it was knowingly or not.
"You know why I like a guy like Miles Davis? I liked him because he would create an atmosphere with his music. Did you ever listen? Just really listen? The great ones know how to compose music that can put you somewhere, set the mood. Dylan Taylor; ever heard of him? He'll be with me at the next gig, he is a great composer. We did this gig in the winter of 2014 and 15 and recorded it, it was called "Jazz Music For A Winter Storm," we played in front of a live studio audience; I talked over some of the playing with the audience and it was off the wall. He wrote an off the wall version of "Jambalaya" and its Gemini-an!"
That "Next gig," is September 8 at Bucks County Community College, located at 275 Swamp Road in Newtown, PA and features Dylan Taylor along with drummer Mike Clark. "Mike Clark wrote perhaps the best track," said an appreciative sounding Coryell. "He is super talented and can play all styles, funk, jazz, rock; between him and Dylan I'm in some good company. We'll be performing two, maybe three originals, a Bud Powell tune and the rest; we'll just wait and see but it'll be cool."
These days Coryell doesn't seem to sweat the small stuff; especially after a near death experience brought about by a medical mishap. "I nearly died back in June," he explained sounding relieved yet still in disbelief. "I went into the hospital for a sinus operation and the doctor let the laser slip and it caused all sorts of problems. I was in the hospital for quite a long time and the laser was originally thought to have possibly caused some brain issues but fortunately it didn't; the doctor almost killed me but I'm back."
A continuous effort to learn from others has Coryell always with an ear toward new and unreleased artists. Recently he's found one in particular that he finds well worth a listen, "Like I said, I love taking in other musicians who aren't guitar players and this guy, Curt Elling, he's just incredible with the things he does with his voice. He sings in 5/4, double time, triple time; he is the baddest cat that I've heard in a very long time. His voice is like green olives; you have to develop a taste for it but he's so good."
After this most recent performance, Coryell will be boarding a plane and heading to Maui to lend his talents to the "6th Annual Maui Jazz Festival." Then it's home for a couple of weeks off and back out on the road in October for a date in North Carolina and then over to Europe for a string of shows.
Coryell, who says he, "Doesn't tour just plays where he's wanted," also says that the future is wide open but that for now he's not slowing down. "Dylan, Mike; I love playing with these guys! When you see the three of us it's balls to the wall; we're not going to tiptoe through any tulips that's for sure. My shows really swing. we're gonna swing like crazy and play songs off the record and we'll see where that takes us."
To discover more about Larry Coryell or purchase tickets to any of his performances; please visit www.larrycoryell.net.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listings
Amalfi's Restaurant & Bar146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Road Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1500
Fri. 9 p.m. Ja-Tun & Random Acts of Soul
Sat. 9 p.m. Diablo Sandwich Band
Amarones Windsor Inn29 Church Street Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 8 p.m. After Dark
Backstage at Championship Bar 931 Chambers Street Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. Brookfield (EP Release Show), Get Killed, Maunikita, 4Karma, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sun. 4 p.m. Hounds, Eaten Alive, Weary Travelers, Flamethrower, (TBA). All ages, $10
Tues. 7 p.m. RVLS, Misery Loves Company, To Vanish Tomorrow, Entierralos, (TBA). All ages, $10
Blend Bar & Bistro911 Highway 33 Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
Wed. 8:30 p.m. Open Mic. hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Bowman's Tavern1600 River Road New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2972
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Glen McClelland Trio
Fri. 8 p.m. Bob Egan
Sat. 8 p.m. Hazelrigg Brothers
Sun. 6 p.m. Lorenzo
Mon. 6 p.m. Andy Prescott
Tues. 6 p.m. Fermenters Trio
Wed. 6 p.m. Eric Mintel
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic Street Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Winard Harper Quartet. $10 (cover charge includes buffet)
Chickie's & Pete's183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Quizzo Trivia
Dempster's Pub437 Pine Street Mount Holly
(609) 261-0500
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. DJ DNIAL
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Chris
Dog & Bull Brew House810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Mike Ghantt
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Visoon (9 p.m.) Mike Estabrook
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) Kevin Toft & the All Stars
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale Jazz (4 p.m.) Bobby LoRusso
Mon. 8 p.m. Keith Lesnik Trio
Wed. 8 p.m. Sister Blue
Fran's Pub116 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows age 21+
Havana New Hope105 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215) 862-9897
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Se7en
Sat. 8 p.m. Tiffany. Ages 21+, Doors at 7 p.m., $35
Sun. 3 p.m. Ten Foot Tall
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Hopewell Valley Vineyards46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. Keith Franklin
Fri. 6 p.m. Michaela McClain
Sun. 2 p.m."Jazzy Sundays" feat. Alix Paul
Iron Plow Vineyards26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus
(732) 306-9111
Fri. 6 p.m. Ronnie Brandt
Sat. 3 p.m. Everything Turned To Color
Sun. 2 p.m. Jerry Steele
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 9 p.m. Tangled
Sat. 9 p.m. Honey Spot Blvd.
All shows 21+
John & Peter's 96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
Killarney's Publik House1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Sat. 9 p.m. "Saturday Night Dance Party" w/ DJ Jimmy G
Laurita Winery85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Thurs. 7 p.m. "Farm to Table" Winemakers Sunset Dinner. $99 (Reservations required) / "2016 Laurita Idol Singing Showcase" Adult Idol Tryouts
Sat. 11 a.m. "Laurita Grape Stomping" (11 a.m.) Shore Syde Band (2 p.m.) Sons of Wexford (6 p.m.) The Successful Failures
Sun. 11 a.m. "Laurita Grape Stomping" (11 a.m.) The Half Brothers (1:30 p.m.) The Tone Rangers (5 p.m.) Roundabout 360
Wed. 6 p.m. "Girls Night Out" / Color Between The Wines
Levitt Amp Trenton 2016 Music SeriesCapital Green @ 201 Barrack Street Trenton
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Pietasters
Mamma Rosa's 572 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 588-5454
Thurs. 6 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Richard Schneider
7 p.m. Moot Davis Duo
McStews Irish Sports Pub5316 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Thurs. 10:30 p.m."Beer Pong" w/ DJ RV & MC Slim
Fri. 9 p.m. Fish Out Of Water
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike
Millhill Basement300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Tues. 10 p.m. "Local Artist" Hip Hop, Experimental EDM and Bass Music Showcase
O'Connor's American Bar & Grille1383 Monmouth Road Easthampton Mt. Holly
(609) 261-1555
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Second Hand City
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Dave Murray Duo
Olde Liberty Tavern2114 Liberty Street Trenton
(609) 396-2262
Sat. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Palermo's Of Hamilton310 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m.
All shows 21 +
Patriot's Crossing1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 8 p.m. Steve Bross
Sat. 8 p.m. Receptor
Pete's Steak House523 Whitehorse Avenue Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Blind Lemmon Pie
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Poor Pluto
Randy Now's Man Cave134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Please Check Web Site for Upcoming Events
RHO Waterfront50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Fri. (4 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet, $10 (8:30 p.m.) The Verdict
Sat. 11 a.m. "The Capital City Food Truck Battle" feat. Danielia Cotton and Adrien Reju, All Pawns, Groovy Movies, Joshua Adair, DJ Ahmad Shakir. $5 (Adults) Kids Under 12 Free
Small World Coffee14 Witherspoon Street Princeton
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Damsel
Sun. 7 p.m. Princeton Bluegrass Jam
Mon. 7 p.m. "Mic Monday"
1867 Sanctuary 101 Scotch Road Ewing
(609) 392-6409
Fri. 7 p.m. Gordon Thomas ward, $20
Sat. 2 p.m. "Swing! Swing! Swing!" w/ Danny Tobias and his All Star Quintet. $20
Sun. 3 p.m. "Entertainment On Demand!" Presents: Hickory Brass-Campbell's Chicken & Stars & Stripes: "A Salute to American Music and Media." $20
Tara's Tavern 1 Cookstown-New Egypt Road Wrightstown
(609) 286-2300
Fri. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong
Sat. 10 p.m. (TBA)
Tavern On The Lake101 Main Street Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. Jukebox Night
Sat. 9 p.m. Speed Limit
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The HOB Tavern146 Second Street Bordentown
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 8 p.m. Deb & Mike
The Ivy Inn248 Nassau Street Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. Rainbow Fresh
Sat. 10 p.m. Jam Lab
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. "Wednesday Wheel Night Spin To Win Karaoke" w/ DJ Rockn Ron
The Record Collector 358 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Sat. 8 p.m. Popa Chubby Band. All ages, Doors at 7:30 p.m., $20 (advance)
The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Fri. 9 p.m. 80's Undercover
Sat. 7 p.m. Vinny Smith & Friends
The Sticky Wicket 2465 South Broad Street Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Smoked Ice
Sat. 9 p.m. Bliss
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke
The Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
Third State Brewing352 High Street Burlington
(609) 387-1620
Sat. 6 p.m. Radio Fiction
Tir Na Nog 1324 Hamilton Avenue Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Sat 9 p.m. Paul Wiese & Joe Arnold
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. hosted by Taylor Reed
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine Street Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic.
Trenton Social449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Fri. 4 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Simon Bebegas ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Chestnut Grove ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.)
Mon. 9 p.m. Matt Phillips
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn2572 Pennington Road Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
Tues. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
All shows 21+
Yardley Inn82 East Afton Avenue Yardley, PA
(215) 493-3800
Sat. 8 p.m. Jon Ashe
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
