Guitarist Larry Coryell has died at 73; Jazz Great

Cafe Society
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Link here: Larry Coryell Dies: Legendary Jazz Guitarist Known as ‘Godfather of Fusion’ | Billboard – Billboard

He played with everyone from the '50’s on. A big influence on a lot of jazz players who ventured towards fusion and out-there Jazz genres.

Thanks, Mr Coryell.

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RIP Mr. Coryell. I saw him twice; fantastic shows.

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I was just watching an old video of him on YouTube, a couple days ago. He was never a household name, but he was well known to readers of the various guitar magazines as a great player who took a lot of chances.

They think he died of natural causes. RIP, Larry.

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Ah, man - big fan when I was in my teens. He was my personal entry into the world of jazz fusion, via a used record store owner who was a fan of Coryell and who liked me enough as a regular to suggest him. I’ve since kinda grown out of the genre, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Coryell in particular. He could play just about everything, from introspective acoustic to some pretty searing rock.

Ever heard him sing? Not a voice for the ages :p, but interesting to hear him in a psychodelic mood.

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No better time than the present to check out my favorite Larry Coryell out:

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Heard him at a live show when I was a teenager in Cleveland; may have been by first ever trip to a jazz club. Great show.

I knew his niece, slightly. She told me the guy was as poor as a churchmouse, was never able to make a decent living ever with all the recordings and club dates.

I always hate hearing these stories about the great jazz players who never achieved much fame, even in the small world of jazz. Pianist Jaki Byard (74 years old) was shot in the head while he was asleep in bed in Queens, NY…unsolved homicide case. Trumpeter Woody Shaw (44), nearly blind from a degenerative eye disease, fell onto the subway tracks in Brooklyn and had his arm severed by the train; never recovered. Saxophonist Wardell Gray (34) was found dead of a broken neck in the desert wastes outside of Las Vegas. Pianist Hilton Ruiz (54) was found unconscious and in a coma on Bourbon Street in New Orleans; never recovered; police ruled it an “accidental fall.”

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…didn’t mean to equate Coryell with these horror tales. As least the poor guy died of “natural causes” in his hotel room.