The name is familiar and to some in the Valley, so is the face but the sound is different. Highland's Murali Coryell, a singer/songwriter/guitarist specializing in rhythm and blues and soul and the son of famed jazz/rock fusion guitarist and Millbrook resident Larry Coryell will be making his solo debut at the Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. Actually, Coryell has played the Crier before, sitting in on some numbers when his father has performed there; but Murali's music has taken him in another direction. At SUNY New Paltz (from which he graduated in 1992), he formed a group called the Ambassadors so named because at the time Coryell, who speaks several different languages, saw himself as a future diplomat rather than a musician The rock band became quite popular in the area; according to Taconic Newspapers' D X. Barton, another SUNY New Paltz graduate, "When Murali plays guitar, it makes Eric Clapton sound like Elmo the Muppet.'' Coryell has since ventured into rhythm and blues and soul music; he calls his current band "an extension)n of the Ambassadors... (the audience) will see the new chapter ''

His debut CD, 'Eyes Wide Open ," consisting mostly of his own compositions), has a decidedly soulful, bluesy style, with numbers ranging from the upbeat title song, to the even livelier "Too Many Women," to the lovely, heartfelt ballad "That Makes Me Happy." Coryell's sound has been compared by reviewers to such soul legends as Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Al Green, and that's understandable; to this writer's ear, there's a touch of Don Henley there as well. Call (914) 855-1300 for reservations and more information.

-L.A.R.