Larry Coryell and the Souls Dirge Band
by darazn1 on Tuesday 08 November 2005
17 songs from Larry's career. Now I know why they call him a legend. Incindiary performance start to finish.
Keeping it short. Full review later.
Opened with an introduction by Julian Coryell, detailing Larry's career story.
Larry stepped up on stage while a recording of him playing a ballad played over the p.a. system. On the left side of the stage, there was a chair set, and flowers were placed in it in honor of the great Steve Marcus. An incense urn burned on the other side of the stage.
Larry then explained the first song. Singing an ode to the death of rock and roll, he alluded to the forward thrust of music, and the fact that his music was an entirely new thing not falling under any particular label. Great solos.
Next up, Souls Dirge. Getting deeper. I think that Julian Coryell stapped out from behind the Fender Rhodes and took a guitar solo here. Amazing.
Then david Hidalgo from Los Lobos came out and they perormed a couple of blues tunes. We're setting out towards legendary here. The show is loud. The rhythm section is as good as it gets. Larry is pulling a mind-boggling vocabulary of riffs out of his hat. People are acting very honored to be a part of this.
A few more songs I don't know, But the guitarist from Maroon 5 comes out and sits in for a song with some serious changes. He takes a great solo... it's easy to forget that pop musicains often have great chops. I don't know Maroon 5's material much, but the guitarist's presence was a gift to Larry's daughter, who is a huge Maroon 5 fan. Larry was praising and talking about his family all night.
Set closed with Marning Sickness, which was unbelievable. No words. Just a maddening scream of excitement and awe. Bass player is so good it's surreal. Purdie on the drums is reassurance and confidence itself. These guys create joy.
Second set, opens with something I haven't heard, but a trumpet player named Winston (last name eludes me) is playing a heavy wah here. Next up, Spaces, in all its glory. Very serious, very heavy, and bopping post-modern hard core, opening the door to the infinite possibilities. Infinitely tight as well. Julian Coryell played John McGlaughlin's segments with ease, as though second nature.
Beautiful Woman was ... well, those in the know must already have a sense about it. First time hearing it, and completely out of control.
Then there's the Great Escape, follwed by the Real Great Escape. Both are great, but the latter tune leaves me in a state of awe, saying to my fiance' "that was deep... that was really deep.... I didn't know a groove could be that deep..."
Stiff Neck was mind-bending, duet between LC and Purdie (I shoud check these names) followed by impressions of an acoustic number from the first Eleventh House record, a solo with a crazy, planetary name.
Dragon Gate was next, and Julian Coryell took complete control here, tearing the song to shreds, apparently shaking up Larry a bit. LC's solo was cautious at first, and then picked up with a series of crazy riffs. At the song's end, LC took complete control with a few well-calculated phrases and took the stage back.
By this time, LC was a bit tired, but making a undying effort. I don't know the next tune's name, but Beyond These Chilling Winds closed the show, with LC's girlfriend Tracy on vocals and tamborine. The transition to the jam was slightly off, but once he got going, the band rallied the night to a spectacular close. 17 songs celebrating the life of a true maestro. Ingenious, legendary... I definitely understand the "legendary" in "legendary" now. Several cameras one scene filming every note.
All I can say is Thank YOU!!! Thank you Larry, Daniel, Julian, Tracey, Bernard Purdie, Winston Kirk (?), the best Bass player n the business, David Hidalgo, James Valentine, and all the others. Thank you for this incredible night.
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