JAZZ: Coryell brings wealth of talent to Golden

By Norman Provizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 4, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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I can still recall Larry Coryell's introduction on drummer Chico Hamilton's 1966 album, The Dealer, and thinking the guitarist's blues-infected style was something special.

On Thursday, you can hear just how special he is when he pulls into Mount Vernon Country Club in Golden with his organ trio that has Paul Wertico on drums and Sam Yahel on Hammond B-3 organ.

In late 1965, the 22-year-old guitarist moved from Washington to New York, and a year later jazz fans got their first exposure to him on the Hamilton album. During the late '60s, his reputation grew when he worked with vibraphonist Gary Burton's quartet, appearing on albums such as the early fusion effort Lofty Fake Anagram and A Genuine Tong Funeral.

By 1973, Coryell had founded the jazz-rock group Eleventh House, following a path that started when he arrived in New York and was part of the band Free Spirits.

But despite his obvious jazz-rock guitar talents, Coryell has always been rooted in the jazz-guitar tradition from Charlie Christian on. He can do it all, and you can read all about it in his autobiography Improvising: My Life in Music.

As for the rest of the band, Wertico is well known for the years he spent with guitarist Pat Metheny, while Yahel, who was part of saxophonist Joshua Redman's trio, is at the top of the list of rising-star organ players in the music.

The trio, which is on Coryell's recent Impressions CD, hits the stage at Mount Vernon at 8 p.m. A buffet dinner starts at 6 p.m. The dinner/music combination is $45.95 and the music alone is $16 (303-526-0616). The country club is off I-70 west of Denver, near exit 254. After Coryell, Mount Vernon has saxophonist Ravi Coltrane's band set for Oct. 29.

ALSO ON TAP: Saxophonist John Ellis is in town this week performing at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St., on Saturday and Sunday with his Double-Wide band. The band has a new CD titled Dance Like There's No Tomorrow on Hyena and offers an updated spin to the New Orleans sound.

In addition to Ellis, the group has Jason Marsalis, of the famed Crescent City Marsalis clan, on drums and Bryan Coogan on organ.

Before Double-Wide pumps things up at Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday ($15, 303-839-5100), the swinging Convergence sextet pays its monthly visit to the club at 7 and 9 p.m. today ($12). Dazzle offers singer Bonnie Lowdermilk from 7 until 9 p.m. Wednesday ($6).

* Later in the week, Dazzle hosts a two-night tribute to pianist/singer Ellyn Rucker Thursday and Sept. 12.

Rucker settled in Denver while in her 20s. She's toured the world with the late saxophonist Spike Robinson and with her own group, including visits to the North Sea Jazz Festival. The strong pianist and engaging vocalist has recorded five discs for Capri Records under her name as well as a live video from New Orleans with her trio. The pianist was a guest on Marian McPartland's noted NPR show Piano Jazz.

On Thursday, the tribute features saxophonist John Gunther, bassist Dave Young, pianist Vlad Girshevich and drummer Jill Fredericksen on hand. On Sept. 12, Laura Newman picks up the saxophone chair. It's a tribute well worth having and attending. Join in at 7 and 9 p.m. ($12).

Normanprovizer@aol.com

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