Spaces

Artist: Larry Coyell
Label: Vanguard Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio Cassette

UPC: 015707934541
EAN: 0015707934541
ASIN: B000007N1F

Release Date: 1993-12-08

Related Categories:

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop & Post-Bop

| Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Spaces (Infinite)
Rene's Theme
Gloria's Step
Wrong Is Right
Chris
New Year's Day in Los Angeles - 1968

Similar Items:

Introducing Larry Coryell & The 11th House
Spaces Revisited
Planet End
Extrapolation
Emergency!

Customer Reviews:

A Bitches Brew-era masterwork.......2004-12-22

The Spaces album is of course remarkable, because of the presence Chick Corea, and of John McLauglhlin and Billy Cobham, core members of the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra. This kind of fusion jazz would not be uncommon on a Bitches Brew session or a Birds of Fire album. Like many sophisticated pieces of music, it is difficult to listen to, as songs very rarely reach a crescendo, but instead go on like extended poetry readings. It is both fiery (the title track) and contemplative (Rene's Theme, Gloria's Step). Make no mistake, however, for this is not a guitar showcase album-you will not hear extended feedback soloing, fancy, enhanced studio trickery or particularly loud guitar workouts. This is a guitar virtuoso's album. Oftentimes it is very difficult to separate Coryell and McLauglhlin's playing. Both are furious pickers (they should've guested on Hee-Haw!) who work mostly in the acoustic mode. I get the sense that Coryell prefers the acoustic guitar and leaves much of electicising to McLauglhlin. Bassist Miroslav Vitous adds depth to many of the tracks (Gloria) on bowed bass. One of my favorite tracks is the "Wrong is Right" track where Coryell's playing approaches the near ferocity of a hail storm, albeit a somewhat quiet one. The one track Corea plays on is "Chris"; his keyboard give the song a somewhat starrier, more atmospheric feel. The two bonus tracks feature a more disjointed approach. On hurricane-like funk of "Tyrone" Cobham's drumming is more prominent as is Corea's electric piano, and the guitar playing is more frenzied than the original album tracks. "Planet End" seems to be the most improvisational piece, and the song that most evokes the cover of this album.

Landmark jazz guitar album.......2004-02-02

In more than a few jazz encyclopedia's "Spaces" is listed as on of the greatest fusion albums ever made, which is simply wrong. Some reviewers simply haven't listened to the album in question. What you'll hear on this album is a straight ahead set of sessions of jazz improvisations where the two creaters of jazz-rock style, Coryell and John McLaughlin, leave volume and feedback behind. A beautifully realized album all around, from Coltranesque postbop on "Renee's Theme" to Coryell's impressionistic "Wrong is Right"; Coryell is the hard charger here, fleet, angular, filling in spaces with flurries of intricate note clusters, while McLaughlin is into spaces, silences, short fines, wonderful bits of filigree. Bassist Miroslov Vitous is terriic, and drummer Cobham works miracles throughout this wonderful wash of music.

Unfortunetaly, Faulted.......2003-11-17

Who could resist 2 excellent guitarists? When they work together the music soars. Unfortunately, Miroslav Vitous gets in the way. He tries to play the same as the guitars but using his base as a violin (at best). Had he stuck to that, especially on "Rene's Theme" great things would have happened. He ruined this album for me. Billy Cobham was excellent.

A great recording.......2001-02-20

I like to here a propewr double bass, and Miroslav Vitous comes on as a past mater. The bowed sections are eerie, yet a vital part of the whole, Bily Cobham plays the drums as only he can, and the guitarists are superb. But this is not virtousity for the its own sake. The solos have structure, they lead to a point, and then don't over extend. The differences between the two guitarists is interesting. Coryell pushes the groove more than McLaughlin, who seems to inhabit the spaces between the beat more, and embelish the rhythmn, this is especially so on Rene's theme, a typical Rheinhart type of tune. Rhythmn playing is often ignored, but its essential for the drama of the tune. An interesting and stimulating album, a must have if you are interested in music.

Super.......2000-05-08

If there's such a thing as "mellow hysteria," Larry Coryell has managed to tap into it on this album. His guitarwork here ripples with phrases that threaten to go off te deep end but somehow stay grounded and engaging. John McLaughlin holds his own here as well and the two of them trading solos on the title cut is wonderful to hear. Add ace support from Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and Miroslav Vitous (playing a bowed bass that sounds, well, other-worldly) and you have an album that wins you over without pummeling you to the ground. Real good.

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