Guitarist and vocalist Murali Coryell's premiere CD Eyes Wide Open comes as a surprise upon initial listening with its freshness, joyous delivery, well crafted songwriting and outstanding musicianship. These are all qualities that are essential to the classic R&B, soul, blues, and funk stance which Murali Coryell embraces, and exhibits full command of on Eyes Wide Open.

Murali Coryell grew up in an musically influenced family, presently resides in the Poughkeepsie, N Y. area, and at twentyseven years old, Murali's professional credentials belie his age. Murali Coryell has a degree in music theory and composition, teaches guitar regularly at the National Guitar Study Camp in Connecticut, and has toured and played with his father Larry Coryell and with Duke Robillard (where he was discovered by the Big Mo Label), toured nationally and internationally with his own band, and continually plays throughout the Hudson Valley and the major metropolitan area when not touring.

There is a strong shot of the classic Stax sound on Eyes Wide Open. Murali shows his vocal influences from Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Ray Charles, and James Brown. His guitar work encompasses the stylings of Otis Rush, Wayne Bennett, Albert King, and the classic R&B soul stylists. Murali's songs are positively hook-laden which speaks much to his credit as a songwriter and which he hammers home with his vocal delivery that runs from sweet and high to soul shouter.

Thematically, Murali almost always addresses the classic soul topics of love, romance, the endurance and maintaining of love, and how sweet it all is. From the title cut of "Eyes Wide Open" to the gospel, love revival of "More and More" or the self-affirmation of "Now is Time (To Make A Stand)." All of this reinforced with his rhythm section and the Uptown Horns contributes to projecting Murali's muse to the listener.

A talent such as Murali Coryell is exceptional, vital, and demands more exposure to the listening public. Major labels should wake up, give Murali Coryell a listen and sign him before they're standing in line and bemoaning their loss of obtaining the talents of this ever growing artist.

by Rolland W Carson