Crate Digger’s Gold: The Eleventh House Featuring Larry Coryell – Level One

Just when you think you know a genre you are reminded of how ignorant you really are.  I picked this up at Half Priced Books in Highland (St. Paul MN) yesterday based on the fact that I knew Larry Coryell was a great jazz guitarist and because the cover was so outrageously 70s.  Change the guys and this could be an Earth Wind and Fire album cover.  So based on that I figured it was worth my $4.00 investment.

• Well it turns out this is an outstanding jazz rock fusion album – on par with anything Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, or Weather Report was putting out at the time (mid 70s).  Although it echos those bands, it does have an original sound-perhaps a bit more accessible than those bands.

Coryell’s playing is diverse – from funky to metal.   I particularly like that it has a trumpet player on it – Coryell’s tone mixes well with the horn. The other big time player on this is Alphonse Mouzon on drums/percussion.  He was dominant player of the time (Weather Report, Miles Davis, etc.)

I did a little research and sure enough this was a pretty influential band within the genre and this LP is considered one of their best.  As best I can tell it is not available on CD or digitally.  Highly recommended.