Larry Coryell, Godfather of Fusion, 1943 - 2017

I met Larry Coryell in 1996 at a guitar workshop here in Houston. I'd arrived an hour early as did Larry. I remember thinking how cool it was I had a private audience with LC before other workshop attendees arrived. After some small talk, he asked me to play for him. I played an original progression I'd been working on and he then asked "Has Al Di Meola heard you play?" (For an instant I was like a deer in headlights) "No.", I said. He then asked me to give him a recording so that he could pass it along to Di Meola the following weekend. I thought it was just awesome Larry thought enough of my playing that he wanted Al Di Meola to hear my chops. I was just elated.

 Later, as the workshop got underway, there were just a small handful of awesome jazz players in attendance. He asked them if they'd heard me play...most of them hadn't, but he commented "Elements of genius!"... Wow. To this day I'm still awestruck he thought highly of my playing. I'm not a musical genius, but I'll take that accolade from a master anytime. I still feel a sense of humbleness and gratitude Larry enjoyed my chops and I feel honored to have met him. I was a huge fan of his work for years prior to that workshop. His iconic recordings with Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola will forever remain revered among musicians & non-musicians alike. Thank you, Larry. Thank you for the music you shared and for your time with us. I look forward to when we meet again on the Grand Stage in the hereafter...