Murali Coryell

Murali Coryell - 2120 - 1999 - Czyz Records

Coryell's fiery debut, and the first release from Czyz Records, resounds with echoes: singer-guitarist Murali's father is jazz-rock fusion guitarist Larry Coryell; the album title refers to the Chess Studios' South Michigan Street address; "Czyz" is the original Polish surname that became Americanized into "Chess"; and Marshall Chess, who served as co-producer with Murali, heads up this label just like his famous Chess family elders did theirs. But 2120 offers no grounds for nepotism charges because Coryell's electric blues trio, with bassist Bill Foster and drummer Rod Gross, charges out of the gate positively smokin'. The leader's slashing and burning, raw guitar style often sounds like Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. His smoldering and sexy presentation of R&B, blues, soul, and rock (including covers of Bo Diddley and Marvin Gaye) frequently sets off fireworks of Jimi Hendrix proportions, yet, apparently wiser than his years, Coryell never makes the young bluesman's mistake of overplaying. © Chris Slawecki © 2012 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/2120-r428083

Hotshot guitarist Murali Coryell flashes some vicious chops on 2120 (Czyz Records CZ-3931-2; 53:41), a solid blues-rock power trio outing featuring Bill Foster on bass and Rod Gross on drums. The son of jazz fusion pioneer Larry Coryell, Murali is yet another "white boy lost in the blues," to quote the Mose Allison song. With a husky raw-throated vocal delivery, he wails like a love-starved hog on "Louise" and Otis Rush's "All Your Love," then conveys the requisite swagger on tunes like "Who Told You" and Willie Dixon's "Hidden Charms." Coryell is so confident of his rough-hewn vocal abilities that he even tackles the Marvin Gaye anthem "Sexual Healing," scoring points for chutzpah and style. His guitar playing throughout has an aggressive, over-the-top edge to it that perfectly suits this earthy music. Highlights include the Elmore James-ish "I Can't Hold Out" and the Magic Sam flavored workout "All My Whole Life," both prime examples of his wild abandon on both guitar and vocals, and the soulful slow blues "So Many Roads, So Many Trains." This fine release is bound to up the ante on Murali's presence on the contemporary blues scene. By & © Bill Milkowski © 1999–2012 JazzTimes, Inc. All rights reserved http://jazztimes.com/articles/8028-2120-murali-coryell

Coryell's fiery debut, and the first release from Czyz Records, resounds with echoes: singer-guitarist Murali's father is jazz-rock fusion guitarist Larry Coryell; the album title refers to the Chess Studios' South Michigan Street address; "Czyz" is the original Polish surname that became Americanized into "Chess"; and Marshall Chess, who served as co-producer with Murali, heads up this label just like his famous Chess family elders did theirs. But 2120 offers no grounds for nepotism charges because Coryell's electric blues trio, with bassist Bill Foster and drummer Rod Gross, charges out of the gate positively smokin'. The leader's slashing and burning, raw guitar style often sounds like Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. His smoldering and sexy presentation of R&B, blues, soul, and rock (including covers of Bo Diddley and Marvin Gaye) frequently sets off fireworks of Jimi Hendrix proportions, yet, apparently wiser than his years, Coryell never makes the young bluesman's mistake of overplaying. ~ Chris SlaweckiRolling Stone (10/14/99, p.124) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...an efficient little blues album with bassist Bill Foster and drummer Rod Gross, 2120 is rich with Coryell's explosive self-possession....Throughout, he aches and screams, dirties things up and keeps them clean. One promising new hound." Dirty Linen (2-3/00, p.86) - "...a deft 3-piece band that lays into an album of soul blues, and rock cover tunes. [Coryell's] got the chops..." - from http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1221414&style=music

Murali grew up listening to rock, soul, jazz, reggae, Latin, classical and blues by great musicians including Carlos Santana, B.B. King, and Miles Davis. He has said that "little pieces of those genres often filter into his original songs". His jazz influence comes from his father, the great Larry Coryell, a jazz guitar legend who has played with the likes of Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix and is one of the inventors of jazz rock fusion music. However, Murali's devotion to the blues is unswerving. "Blues, rock and roll, and jazz are America's cultural contribution to the world," he says. "But there isn't going to be another B.B. King or Buddy Guy, so we have to absorb what they've done, and make sure we keep the music right." "I've found it's really important to not rely so much on the guitar," he says. "It's a riff-oriented instrument, so you tend to play and write stuff you already know. What you should do is write something that comes naturally to your head, and then translate it to the instrument, rather than the other way around. I also have a secret songwriting weapon in my seven-year-old son Charlie, who sometimes comes up with titles for me. A song starts with an idea, and I'm the kind of person who is most creative when there's a structure established--like a song title. My family provides tons of inspiration, because blues is life and life is blues." "2120" is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Buy Murali's "The Same Damn Thing" album, and support real music [All tracks @ 320 Kbps (CBR): File size = 125 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. I'm Satisfied - Otis Rush
2. Louise - John Lee Hooker, Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting
3. Who Told You - Willie Dixon
4. Hidden Charms - Willie Dixon
5. All Your Love - Magic Sam
6. She's Into Somethin' - Carl Wright
7. I Can't Hold Out - Elmore James
8. So Many Roads, So Many Trains - Marshall Paul
9. That's How It Is (when Your In Love) - Otis Clay
10. Who's Been Talking - Chester Burnett
11. Pills - Bo Diddley
12. All My Whole Life - Magic Sam
13. Stop - Murali Coryell
14. Bright Lights, Big City - Jimmy Reed
15. Sexual Healing - David Ritz, Marvin Gaye, Odell Brown

BAND

Murali Coryell - Guitar, Vocals
Bill Foster - Bass
Rod Gross - Drums

SHORT BIO

Although he's the son of fusion guitarist Larry Coryell, Murali Coryell chose not to follow in the same style of music as his father -- he specializes in blues and soul. Coryell issued his debut album in 1995, Eyes Wide Open, following it up four years later with 2120 (recorded at Todd Rundgren's Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY, it became the first ever album issued by new label CZYZ, created by the sons of original Chess Records founders Leonard and Phil -- Marshall and Kevin Chess) enlisting the services of both Rod Gross (drums) and Bill Foster (bass). In 2000, Coryell teamed with his father and brother Julian, to record the collaboration album Coryells. © Greg Prato © 2012 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/murali-coryell-p144268/

BIO (WIKI)

Murali Coryell (born October 27, 1969) is an American blues guitarist and singer. Best known for performing live in small venues in New York State, Coryell has also opened for George Thorogood, Gregg Allman, B.B. King and Wilson Pickett. While touring the United States, he uses local session musicians for his performances rather than traveling with a regular backing band. Murali Coryell was born to Julie Coryell and famed jazz fusion guitarist Larry Coryell. Murali's first interest was in playing the drums but, in a move he calls "inevitable", he switched to guitar at a young age. Wanting to avoid competition with his father and his brother, Julian, he perfected his own more mainstream style of soul and blues which draws comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. Others have likened his style to the Memphis soul produced by labels such as Hi and Stax Records. Coryell graduated from Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, in 1987. He received a BA in music theory and composition from the SUNY New Paltz Music Department in 1992. The title of his seond album 2120 was a reference to 2120 Michigan Avenue, the address of now-defunct R&B record label Chess Records. Coryell's maternal grandmother was the actress Carol Bruce.