Special jazz moments, all night long

Larry Coryell

Guitarist Larry Coryell is a musical force unto himself, but when he gets to converse with other musicians, the results can border on magical. Such was the case Saturday, January 17 when the jazz-rock veteran, now more comfortably digging into standard fare, performed in the South County Jazz Club series at Sarasota's Glenridge Performing Arts Center.

Coryell, Neuenschwander

A year ago, Coryell played the Glenridge as a solo act. This time, he performed with bassist Markl Neuenschwander and drummer Tracy Alexander. It was the first time he'd worked with either of them, though early in his career, he did work with the drummer's father, Mousey Alexander. Mousey, a prominent jazz drummer in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, died in 1988.

The rapport among the three was beautiful because of their degree of anticipating each other, enjoying what they heard from each other and the collective result. Coryell and Neuenschwander were locked into an uncommon conversational interplay all night.

Special treats: 

• Coryell's 90-minute set included two musical tips of the hat. The trio performed an extended exploration of Dave Brubeck's ballad "In Your Own Sweet Way" and
  
  then played Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" in memory of guitarist Jim Hall, who died  in December 2013. He said he chose the latter tune because Hall loved Ellington's music. As for Brubeck, Coryell told the crowd of 230+ that "Dave Brubeck can never be replaced. All we can do is play his music as best we can."
• Coryell, 71, shifted from electric guitar to acoustic for the night's final three songs. He performed solo on "Our Love is Here to Stay" (dedicating it to his wife) and a tour-de-force romp through Ravel's "Bolero." 

Neuenschwander and Alexander joined him for the finale, Luis Bonfa's bossa nova "Manhã de Carnaval," better known as the theme from the movie "Black Orpheus."

Neuenschwander, Coryell, Alexander