Coming Attractions: Larry Coryell
Groundbreaking multi-genre guitarist Larry Coryell passed away unexpectedly in February. I’m a longtime fan of his; I first interviewed him in 2014. And then last year I had the honor of curating a reissue – the first-ever on CD – of his second solo album, 1970’s Coryell.
Another Coryell project is in the pipeline right now: a reissue of his Live at the Village Gate album. Almost completely removed form the jazz idiom, this date showcases a power trio: Coryell plus drummer Harry Wilkinson and bassist Mervin Bronson. Its character is closer to Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys than any sort of jazz, though the trio does engage in some tasty improvisation. But it’s of the very heavy variety.
The project was already underway when Larry passed away, but happily I connected with Harry Wilkinson. He shared his memories of working with Coryell, and specifically the pair of gigs that yielded Live at the Village Gate. He was also kind enough to share a photo from his personal collection. A Polaroid, it was in pretty bad shape – cracked, stained, and faded – but I spent some time fiddling in Photoshop and improved it a bit. The photo shows him and Coryell onstage in Chicago in early 1973. By that point in the timeline, the group was a five-piece.
The librarians at the Chicago Public Library were kind enough to provide me with a copy of a review of the very show depicted in this shot. I’ve posted that below as well.
Live at the Village Gate will be out soon – more details to come – and it’s a must-purchase. Not because I wrote the liner notes and did the package design (though none of that hurts), but because it’s a superb set of music and a slice of history.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.