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Murali Coryell
Eyes Wide Open
(Big Mo Records)
October 1995 Vol. 5 No. 10
Murali Coryell grew up around great music and it shows. As the
son of jazz/rock fusion pioneer Larry Coryell, Murali found it
normal to discover the likes of Miles Davis, George Benson and
Billy Cobham, among others, hanging out at his house. When you
hear the younger Coryell's debut disc, Eyes Wide Open, you know
he was present in mind as well as body.
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Rather than cruising in his father's s potentially daunting footsteps,
however, Murali Coryell has headed down the blues highway with
day trips into sweeter soul music and funkadelia. He is a singer,
guitarist and songwriter of exceptional talent. What is delightful
is that he does it with such intelligence, style and taste.
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Coryell's s extraordinary vocal abilities have been likened to
those of Sam Cooke and Al Greene. High praise, indeed. Don't believe
it? Relax and let the oh-so-sweet strains of "Hold Me,"
one of nine original tunes by Coryell on the CD, soothe your weary
soul. Or take a listen to the smoldering "Softly Let Me Kiss
Your Lips," another original tune. If this song doesn't bring
to mind Bobby Blue Bland singing to a roomful of screaming women,
you haven't seen Bobby Blue Bland.
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Coryell's s guitar style shows restraint and discipline. His considerable
talents, which include coaxing a gorgeous tone from his Stratocaster,
are displayed throughout the disc without those endless solos
that everywhere but home. Coryell and his top-notch band, along
with the Uptown Horns, play as an ensemble and, the result is
a tight, well-balanced contemporary blues sound.
A welcome bonus to female listeners: This guy really likes women.
Yes! And you can dance to it.
J.W.
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