Larry Coryell – Barefoot Boy VG+/VG

The album features a stellar lineup of musicians, including Steve Marcus on soprano sax and tenor sax, Mervin Bronson on bass, Mike Mandel on keyboards, and Roy Haynes on drums. The three-track album opens with the fiery “Gypsy Queen,” which features a percussion-driven groove and Coryell trading explosive solos with Marcus. “The Great Escape” is a funky, filmic number that showcases Coryell’s bluesy licks. The album’s finest moment is the side-long “Call to the Higher Consciousness,” an extended modal workout with Coryell’s fluid lines perfectly complemented by Mandel’s piano.

Barefoot Boy is a must-have album for fans of jazz fusion, and is essential listening for anyone who wants to hear Coryell at his best.