Two of today’s most gifted young guitarists are backed here by a superb rhythm section. The result is an excellent album which I suspect is aimed at non jazz buyers but which will appeal to any J.J. readers with open ears. The sleeve begs that we make no comparison between Coryell and McLaughlin. This is quite difficult because the wide difference in styles invites such a step. Coryell is the more fleet and his rippling runs will be known to all who enjoyed his work with Gary Burton. McLaughlin is slightly more ascetic and is a better player because of it. He seems to have more time to get his ideas across and, although he swings slightly less, there is a real beauty in the angular lines.
Cobham drums with what can only be called zest; he is a rhythmic pusher and by being fractionally ahead of the beat creates a vital atmosphere. Vitous is a very good player, whose bowed solos are well conceived and Corea makes his usual reliable contribution. The choice of material is good and the album includes Rene Thomas’ tribute to Django called Rene’s Theme. This would be a good track for the doubter to sample because it enters the great Belgian’s territory without sounding the slightest bit dated.
Discography
Spares; Rene’s Theme; Gloria’s Step (18¾ min) – Wrong Is Right; Chris; New Year’s Day In Los Angeles – 1968 (18¾ min)
Larry Coryell (gtr); John McLaughlin (gtr); Chick Corea (elec-pno); Miroslav Vitous (bs); Billy Cobham (dm).(Vanguard VSD 79345 £1.49)
