EUROPEAN IMPRESSIONS

This album is yet another acoustic guitar album that LC has gotten us used to in the late 70's, and here half the record is a recording of his third appearance at the Montreux festival in the summer of 78. The first time around (71), he had come with a rock group, the second time around (74), he was with his Eleventh House group, and this time around, he came as a solo acoustic guitarist, again reflecting well what he was up to at the time. With an alpine artwork and a long-haired Larry hunched over his Ovation guitar on the back cover, this album is an unaccompanied straight acoustic guitar album, the typical stuff LC was into in the late 70's, somewhere between Reinhardt and acoustic blues-jazz. Better investigate Lion & Ram album, to see if you could be into this one.

There arent that many acoustic guitarists in the world that I would want to sit and listen to for an entire concert of solo jazz pieces. But Larry Coryell is one of them. And actually, around the time this was recorded, I did see him play live solo concerts a few times. And this is a nice example of just what his shows were like.

The first LP side (the first three songs) are from a concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and sidw two was recorded in a studio. The pieces range from romantic pieces, like April Seventh to just wild improvisation, like Toronto Under The Sign Of Capricorn.

As far as I know, this has never been reissued on CD. Too bad. I bet it would sound great.

Larry Coryell is one of my guitar heroes, and I like him best on steel string acoustic guitar. The European Impression album is to me one of his best acoustic works.

This album consists of 7 tracks. The first three tracks were recorded from 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival, and the rest were recorded on studio. The Montreux Jazz Festival tracks are all fantastic.

First track 'Toronto Under the Sign of Capricorn' is my favourite track. This composition shows Coryell's inspiring guitar techniques: the fast picking, beautiful use of harmonics, and fierce blues strumming. The mood changes several times, make this nearly-9-minute composition enjoyable from the beginning to end. The sound is very natural, when listen carefully, we can capture the sound of plectrum stroking the steel string ' and it sound great for me.

'For Philip and Django' is another great track, with chords composition that reminds me to Villa-Lobos works (e.g. Choro No.1), but in jazzy way.

'Rodrigo Reflections' is kind of Coryell's homage to Joaquin Rodrigo, and yes ' there are few bits of Concierto de Aranjuez, a mix of jazz and flamenco flavor and hilariously take a part of traditional song Yankee Doodle. The version is different (or maybe expanded) from its release on 1976 'The Eleventh House: Aspects'. I like this version better, a lot of fun and passions.

The rest of tracks were recorded at NYC later in the same year. All are as well great tracks. 'April Seventh' is a nice (mainly in major scale) slower composition. 'The Silver Medley: Song for My Father / Sister Sadie' is a bluesy tune, with some rock'n'roll progression and licks. 'Copenhagen Impressions' has a lot of arpeggios, harmonic notes and unique bending. 'Variations On A Theme' is a short last piece, it's unique feature is the use of palm-muted notes.

Wonderful record! One of reference in steel-string acoustics fusion performance. It is kind of pure Coryell at his peak, summarising many of his great guitar playing technique.

Sitting unaccompanied in front of audience with acoustic guitar only and playing mainly energetic pieces.

The first piece "Toronto under the sign of capricorn" is a varied track starting lightly and then changing into loud chords before fast melodic fills. "For Philip and Django" is the only quieter tracks in terms of intensity, excellent picking. "Rodrigo Reflections" is a dynamic melodic piece. The rest of the album comes from studio, the masterfully played "April seventh" with full of taste. Other tracks are less memorable. "Copenhagen impressions" has an interesting combination of cleverly and quickly played a very soft sounding track with great chord sequence.

Quite a good concert and not too long to grow tired of hearing a single acoustic guitar.