Record Reviews

LARRY CORYELL ~ ASPECTS / TWO FOR THE ROAD / EUROPEAN IMPRESSIONS FLOATING WORLD 6483 (Barcode: 805772648326) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1976 - 1978 Released: 2025 This is a 2CD reissue of three albums by the iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, all released in the late 1970s on the AristaFind albums on this label label. “Aspects” from 1976 was recorded by the Fusion ensemble Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist, which features Coryell along Japanese trumpeter Terumasa HinoFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Mike MandelFind albums by this artist, bassist John LeeFind albums by this artist and drummer Gerry BrownFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, three originals by Coryell, two by Mandel, one each by Lee and Brown and finally one by guitarist Danny ToanFind albums by this artist, who is one of several star guests, including saxophonist Michael BreckerFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist (who produced the album), guitarist Steve KhanFind albums by this artist and saxophonist David SanbornFind albums by this artist. The music is a scorching set of Fusion, Funky, Soul and Groove numbers, with brilliant guitar work by the leader and all the participants. “Two For The Road” from 1977 is a duo album with guitarist Steve Khan, which in complete contrast to “Aspects” is strictly acoustic set, one of several brilliant guitar duo albums Coryell loved to record and grabbed every opportunity to do so. The album presents seven tracks, one original composition by Coryell, one co-composed by both guitarists and the rest are Jazz standards. The album is a true “Art of the Duo” jewel, showing the great interplay between the two guitarists and their individual skills. “European Impressions” from 1978 is a solo acoustic guitar album, recorded partly live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (three tracks) and a studio recording in NY (four tracks), six of which are original compositions by Coryell and one is a standard. As all his solo guitar albums, this is a stunning example of Coryell’s acoustic guitar virtuosity Overall, all three albums are of course worthy of an honorable place in any serious Jazz record collection, like everything Coryell ever recorded right up to his premature death in 2017. I had the opportunity to hear Larry perform many times and spent many evening conversing with him and his wife Julie. This reissue makes these albums available again at a budget price, so if you don’t own the LP versions, don’t even think twice.

Updated: 19/03/2026Posted: 19/03/2026

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