This recording properly acknowledges
Coryell's main influences, swings nicely, delves into his under-appreciated mellow side, and reaffirms his status as an enduring jazz guitarist who still has plenty to say. Gone are the flash and the kamikaze riffs in favor of lean chords and structured, sensible, slightly gritty linear improvisations. Tributes to his heroes fall along standard company lines. Still, there's a lingering trace of the steely, hair-trigger old days of fusion in his interpretation of
Thelonious Monk's spastic "Trinkle Tinkle" with tenor saxophonist
Willie Williams. For contrast is the warm, spiritual blanket of
John Coltrane's "Naima" and the forthright reading of the 12-bar blues "Up 'Gainst the Wall" featuring
Williams. The elongated lines of
Miles Davis's "All Blues" almost lull you into a false sense of security, so beautifully subtle, understated and cool are they.
Coryell always chooses extraordinary sidemen, and when you pick pianist
John Hicks (on four cuts, including the gorgeous "Naima") bassist
Santi Debriano and drummer
Yoron Israel, you've got a winning team. It's also great that
Coryell introduces new material, like the soulful, swinging "Fairfield County Blues,"
Hicks and
Coryell in complete accord, with a tip of the chordal-and-single-line-combo hat to
Wes Montgomery. "Almost a Waltz," also written by the leader, is molasses slow, in 4/4, and a calm ending to this fulfilling disc.
Coryell's virtuosity is evident; harnessed, and sounding better than ever, utilizing a prototype Cort LCS-1 model he designed. Several recent efforts can also be easily recommended, but this finely crafted recording ranks with any of his many better-to-best dates. ~ Michael G. Nastos