Bird would have approved
Mickeypoos | Australia | 10/07/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Birdfingers" is an excellent place for the Coryell neophyte-fan to get acquainted with one of the pioneers of jazz-rock. Why Coryell has never received the same sort of adulation as his fusion contemporaries continues to mystify me (was it the dorky glasses?), because the man is, quite simply, a trailblazer.
Four years before Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" album was released, Coryell was playing in the Free Spirits; generally considered to be the first jazz-rock band. Whereas nowadays, the word "eclectic" - in regards to music - has a certain stigma of implying a lack of focus or discipline, Coryell is the sort of guitarist that makes eclecticism an attractive and logical extension of his personal style. Over the years, he has played straightahead jazz, adapted Stravinsky and Ravel pieces for the guitar and played hard-edged blues-rock. However, the recordings on this CD primarily focus on the nascent years of fusion (1969-1975), with one track from 1979's "The Return" included.
I could have done without "Love Child's coming home", in which he tries to transcend a few too many genres (in this case, country). Coryell's strident singing voice can be heard too occasionally, but fortunately this is reduced to only about 4 or 5 of the 14 tracks.
Every aspiring guitarist should be aware of Coryell. Before Larry, jazz guitarists were playing hollow body ES-175s with the bridge pick-up on to create the warm, supple and genteel sound that most people would now think of as 'afternoon-nap' music. Coryell was one of the first guitarists to experiment with the tonal possibilities of the instrument rather than just the harmonic possibilities. "Birdfingers" is a good starting point for this acquaintance. (I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I were allowed to!)"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1