Produced by
Bob Thiele
and recorded at
Electric Lady
studios with engineer
Eddie Kramer
,
Barefoot Boy
is one of
Larry Coryell
's finest recordings as a leader.
"Gypsy Queen"
was recorded prior to bassist
Mervin Bronson
's arrival at the studio, and features the percussion section locking into a groove over which
Coryell
lays down a riff and
Steve Marcus
cuts loose with a fiery soprano sax solo. When it's his turn to solo on this opening number,
turns up the heat, sounding like a cross between
Jimi Hendrix
and
Sonny Sharrock
. (
played with
Sharrock
on
Herbie Mann
's
Memphis Underground
.)
"The Great Escape"
finds
cooking over a bass and percussion groove, with
Marcus
on tenor sax.
"Call to the Higher Consciousness"
is a side-long 20-minute jam in which all the players take a ride, with
once again cooking on the soprano sax.
Roy Haynes
is superb throughout, working in tandem with the percussionists to keep the music moving. This recording is a noteworthy example of the possibilities inherent in the early days of fusion, blending the electrifying energy of rock with the improvisational excitement of jazz. ~ Jim Newsom