By Kaylene Peoples | Agenda Magazine (www.agendamag.com) | April 10, 2017
The Blue Whale in Downtown L.A. is known for organic music, featuring a variety of styles such as fusion, contemporary jazz, new age, and those that thrive in a cozy, ambient atmosphere. Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 9:00 PM to 11:45 PM was filled with the essence of Larry Coryell, and I had never seen this intimate venue so packed. The tribute concert was spearheaded by Larry’s surviving son Julian, who proved to his father’s fans, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Following the memorial of Larry Coryell (which occurred earlier that day) the concert was to be a celebration of the man and his music. The original lineup was to include Julian Coryell on guitars, Bunny Brunel on bass, Brian Auger on Piano and B3 organ (he took ill that night and was replaced by keyboardist/organist Matt Rohde); and drummers Gerry Brown the first set, and Andy Sanesi the second set.
The song list was filled with some of Larry Coryell’s greatest compositions. Julian played flawlessly those songs, which included the following: “Spaces Revisited,” “Sink or Swim,” “Treats Style,” “First Things First,” “Low Lee Tah, “After Later,” “Bird Fingers,” and “Good Citizen Swallow.” As spirited as those performances were, the show was further commemorative of the fusion style with two tunes by the late, great fusion/soul drummer Alphonse Mouzon, who passed away earlier this year. The ensemble performed Mouzon’s “The Cover Girl ” and “Poobli”; and early in the second set, Julian Coryell and Bunny Brunel did a duet by René Thomas called “Renée’s Theme.” This was famous duet originally performed by Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin from the album Spaces..
Continue reading “Larry Coryell Tribute at the Blue Whale: A Stroll Down Memory Lane”
The French-born jazz bassist has teamed up with Stanley Clarke to produce a new album, Bass Ball, that’s centered around a top-notch roster of bass players from around the world. Five years in the making, the album features impressive solos by U.S. bass stars Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey and Cameroonian jazz phenom Armand Sabal-Lecco, as well as some of Brunel’s compatriots from the land of the Eiffel Tower.
“I composed and named the tune ‘Bay of the Angels’ and decided to have musicians from my hometown perform on the song,” says Brunel. “They were trombonist Alex Perdigon, trumpeter Eric Giausserand, bass players Tony Bonfils, Dominique Bertram, Fifi Chayeb.”
“The NAMM Show is one of the largest musical instrument trade shows, which takes place in Anaheim every January. This was my 5th show and my first one as an exhibitor for Fluterscooter bags!