Larry Corban’s debut trio recording was created in the company of bassist Harvie S (#1 CD on Billboard Charts 2013, “Witchcraft” duo with Kenny Barron) and drummer Steve Williams (Shirley Horn’s drummer for 25 years). The essence of this band can be described as “the sound of Wes Montgomery playing Countdown in 5/4 with the Miles Davis 60’s quintet rhythm section, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, backing him.” In the guitar trio environment, Larry’s playing has a sharp-edged, metallic chording, stinging single notes, and the seemingly effortless ability to move back and forth between the two modes.
Solo guitar with bass/drums accompaniment is at the centerpiece of this project but the acoustic guitar duets done with overdubbing add another sound texture. Thirteen out of the fourteen songs on this record are penned by Larry with moods ranging from an uptempo 4/4 “burner” (Enjoy the Ride) to a medium tempo “swinger” (Sideswiped) to a moody introspective “bossa” (Roll the Dice) to a gorgeous “ballad” (The Second She Leaves, which features Harvie S bowing the melody). “Seventh Dimension”(in 7/8), “Story Inside My Head” (Countdown changes in 5/4 with a new melody), and “Wolf’s Den” (2 reharmonized chorus of blues ala Joe Henederson) will appeal to jazz fans with an adventurous flair.
“Bossa Barb” is a slow, loose moody bossa with a gorgeous bass solo by Harvie S. “Blink of an Eye” is a “Coltrane/Elvin 3/4” featuring Steve Williams with a solo guitar intro that brings to mind Lenny Breau. The great texture changers are the duets done with overdubs using a steel string acoustic (Seventh Dimension in 7/8), nylon string acoustic (Dreamwheel in 3/4), and Gibson L-5 (3 Hours Late). These acoustic pieces will appeal to John McLaughlin fans of the My Goals Beyond CD and Pat Metheny fans of One Quiet Night. The ballad “Hmm” is a solo guitar piece done with fingers with a relaxed, meditative feel.
“East of the Sun” by Bowman Brooks, the one standard on the CD, is done as a medium tempo with brushes and gets a tour-de-force treatment ala Joe Pass. As interesting as the songs are as musical vehicles, they are written as a way to commemorate and tell the stories of various events that we participate in through life itself.