Larry Coryell

Larry Coryell was an American jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader, born in 1943 in Galveston, Texas. He died in 2017. His music covered jazz, jazz fusion, jazz-rock, free jazz, acoustic jazz, classical-influenced guitar music, blues, rock, and Latin styles. His official biography says he was born on April 2, 1943, and grew up in the Seattle area; his official estate site presents him as the “Godfather of Fusion.”

Important albums include Lady Coryell, Coryell, Spaces, Barefoot Boy, Offering, The Real Great Escape, Introducing The Eleventh House with Larry Coryell, Level One, The Restful Mind, Twin House, and Tricycles. Well-known tracks and performances include “Spaces,” “Rene’s Theme,” “The Jam with Albert,” “Lady Coryell,” “Barefoot Boy,” “Offering,” “Scotland Part One,” “Good Citizen Swallow,” and “The Dragon Gate.”

He is known as one of the pioneers of jazz-rock fusion. Spotify describes him as one of the pioneers of jazz-rock, and Apple Music notes that he helped create one of the first jazz groups to openly integrate rock, country, funk, and Indian music influences.