Larry Coryell is an impressive guitarist whom some have claimed to be even more impressive in the sideman facility. Certainly his sessions with Charles Mingus, Wolfgang Dauner's Et Cetera, and Chico Hamilton are often staggeringly good. Of his own work, both Spaces and the outtake collection, Planet End contain some stellar moments. The cover of Larry Young's "Tyrone" on the latter lp is as zonked as the best planetary jazz, but their diversity -- Planet End also contains two Eleventh House tracks -- may work against 'em when it comes to a pure uninterrupted mindblast. Barefoot Boy has some peaks, including his take on Gabor Szabo's "Gypsy Queen" which is near as impressive as Leon Thomas' version. Offering, more electric in execution (literally, if not figuratively), offers the most. It's not so much a "guitarists" record as other Coryell albums and goes the furthest outside during the free jazz/rock of the title track and in the hypnotic closer, "Beggar's Chant."  Steve Marcus on sax and Mike Mandel on "electric piano with fuzz-wah" both figure prominently. Only on Offering do the ensemble release the energy of the Eleventh House without the blatant embracing of virtuosity, while maintaining the psychedelia that simmered on many of Coryell's earlier works.  [DW]

Spaces has some really cookin' moments and includes guest stints from McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Billy Cobham and Miroslav Vitous. Also, LC was a member of Gary Burton's late 60's/early 70's band, and any of the stuff on RCA under Burton's name is worth checking out. Most recently Coryell returned to his fusion roots on a '98 release called Cause and Effect. A power trio effort with Steve Smith (drums) and Tom Coster (keys). It flat out burns in a McLaughlin/Hendrix vein. [CD]