PICO RIVERA -- With his youthful demeanor and trendy clothing, 28-year-old Daniel Meza looks like he'd be right at home at a hip-hop concert.

But the independent filmmaker from Pico Rivera is enamored of jazz and one jazz musician in particular -- Larry Coryell.

Meza is trying to produce a documentary about the guitarist, who is known for his fusion of jazz and rock. He also is putting on a retrospective concert in Hollywood featuring Larry Coryell performing with the Souls Dirge Band and musical guests.

"Ever since I first heard him play, I wondered why he wasn't accepted by my generation like a (Jimi) Hendrix or (Eric) Clapton," said Meza. "So I thought, why not put my love of film and music together and tell the story of a man who played what he felt and didn't care what the commercial world felt?"

But so far, Meza has found his film project to be an uphill battle.

"It has been a constant struggle, with faith, family and credit cards getting me through," he said. "This man is a legend and I thought that would be enough to open many doors, but I was in for an unpleasant surprise, because no one cared about what I was trying to do."

He does, however, have the support of the most important person of all -- Coryell.

It was Meza's youth and passion that convinced Coryell to go for the project, the musician said from his home in Orlando, Fla.


"He has youth on his side and he hasn't been beaten down by the business," Coryell said. "I honestly don't know who else would come forward at this time to make the film."

Since he began honing his skills on the guitar in New York City in 1965, Coryell, 62, has recorded more than 70 albums as a bandleader, soloist and feature accompanist.

Over the years, he has been dubbed the godfather of jazz fusion.

Meza's planned documentary will portray Coryell's entire life and will include footage from an upcoming concert, "Earthquake At the Avalon, Larry Coryell Retrospective Concert," set for Oct. 13 at the Avalon in Hollywood.

Meza, who put himself through film school at Cal State Los Angeles, hopes to make more films about musicians.

"There are music legends among us who have given their lives to bring happiness to others," he said. "They should not be ignored."

-- Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028, or by e-mail at [email protected].