Murali Coryell – Soul of a Nation
Self-released
8 Tracks – 46 Minutes
Murali Coryell is the son of famed fusion guitarist Larry Coryell. As such, he has been surrounded by music his entire life. He has lived with Carlos Santana, toured as a supporting act for B.B. King, and as a featured artist with Joe Louis Walker, jazz saxophonist Bill Evans and with his father with whom he also recorded an album, Coryell, in 2000 which included his brother, Julian. Murali was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame and received a Kennedy Center lifetime achievement award from former President Biden.
Murali chose blues and soul music as his preference rather than following in his father’s footsteps. He released his first album, Eyes Wide Open, in 1995. That was followed by his second album, 2120, which became the first album released on the CZYZ record label, formed by the sons of the original Chess Records founders. This album is Murali’s tenth release.
The album consists of six originals and two covers. It was recorded with both his New York and Texas bands. Murali plays guitar and vocals with Bill Foster on bass on the first four tracks, and Peter O’Brien on drums on the first six tracks. Other tracks feature Jeff Anderson or Lannie Hilboldt on bass and Ernie Durawa on drums. Will Gage adds guitar on the final two tracks. The album is noted as dedicated to his recently departed friends Joe Louis Walker, Jeff Anderson, and Danny Pickering.
The album opens with “Pardon Me” addressing the power of the Presidential Pardon citing “set the criminals free and lock up the ones that just looks like me” and provides a long list of the crimes that have been pardoned as his guitar energetically weaves along. He declares “Severe Anxiety” is going to be the death of me. I try so hard to get along” in an all-out rocker. The first cover is Donny Hathaway’s 2010 song “Someday We’ll All Be Free” which Murali says in his liner notes that he would want to be played at his funeral. As might be expected, the song is very soulful with vibes and keyboards listed as played by someone only listed as D. He advises “Keep on walking tall. Hold your head up high. Make your dreams ride up to the sky”.
“Soul of a Nation” looks at how the United States has become more divided since 9/11 and increasingly so in more recent years. “Things are taking two steps forward and three steps back”. “I want my kids to learn about science, not taught to inside violence”. “You tell me not to believe my lying eyes.” “The future is what we leave to our children.” Janice Dempsey joins Murali on vocals on “Take It Off” as he says he will take my jacket off for you.” in an upbeat number. He states he wrote “Ukraine War Cries” on the day the war first broke out in Ukraine. He sent a copy of it to President Zelensky who responded with a thumbs up. The song identifies the plight of those impacted by the attack.
Delbert McClinton identified that he really liked his performance at Antone’s in Texas of Teddy Pendergrast’s 1980 song “Love TKO” and encouraged him to record it. A soulful song with Joe Morales adding a powerful sax into the mix for a very jazzy sound. He concludes the album with a new recording of “Eyes Wide Open”, which was on his debut 1995 album, another soulful love song.
Murali’s guitar speaks to you in every song demonstrating the strong background received from his family and upbringing. His vocals are somewhat raspy, but still very distinctive and emotive. From his accompanying notes, “Music serves so many different purposes. Sometimes it’s made for us to dance and to make us feel good, sometimes it’s to make us think.” “Being a musician is a calling, like being a priest or a nurse or a teacher” You’re not doing it for the money, you’re doing it because it’s a part of who you are.” The album certainly delivers some powerful social messages about the world today but does not neglect the love that still exists and is encouraged.
