By Danny Coleman
originally published: 03/18/2021
The unexpected passing of guitar great Larry Coryell caught the jazz world off-guard leaving many in shock and disbelief. Widely considered to be one of the most innovative and greatest players of all-time, Coryell is often credited as one of the founding fathers of the jazz fusion genre and as the saying goes; "Often imitated and never duplicated."
Fortunately for those who appreciated the raw spontaneous talent that defined Larry Coryell there was one last studio album; one he had completed prior to his untimely passing. "Larry's Last Swing with Ireland" has a scheduled release date of April 30 on Angel Air Records and recently his widow Tracey opened up on her struggles with Larry's passing, the decision as to how and why the release came about and her own career as a singer and songwriter.
"Well," she started slowly, "John Lappen has a lot of connections other than doing publicity work and there was a label and they were looking for music to unearth and distribute and this was one of the ones that he pitched and they were interested in Larry releasing and we struck a deal. I have a lot more material that was unreleased by Larry; I wanted it to be out and about because I know that's what Larry would have wanted and it just shouldn't be sitting on a shelf anymore, it was time to get it all out and circulating."
Just like, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner;" nobody should have the works of Larry Coryell on a shelf but healing from loss takes time and Tracey was no exception.
"These are projects that Larry did on his own; they just never got off the ground. They were independent from a studio thing that he did with two musicians in Ireland and this studio album was actually the last studio project he did and there wasn't enough time left for him on the planet to see it through and do something with it. We were going to look for a label or do a self-release but I'm sure that a label would've picked it up; that was the plan so I just continued with it but it took me a while to get my life and my mind straight and to feel out whether or not that I wanted to stay on board and handle running all of Larry's business that was still there. I decided that I wanted to do it, there are no emotions that get in the way anymore; it has been four years since he left. We just passed four years on February 19, so it has been a long time; so yeah."
"All we had were the tracks," she continued to explain, "None of the artwork or anything else was done but let me backtrack; when Larry passed it was such a shock and I'm not making this up but I kind of forgot so much of what had happened that last couple of years. I was his business manager throughout our relationship and it was like everything had vanished from my head. I couldn't remember the last gigs that he had done or the business of it; I couldn't remember anything and my life became so unorganized because of all the movement from it all. So, what happened was, later that year around the end of 2017 the drummer approached me and said, "Tracy; how are you doing? I want you to know that we have the tracks safe and sound" and I said; what are you talking about? I couldn't remember and I should've because I was there; it was such a traumatic thing that happened and I just kind of didn't know and then I was like, yeah, that's right! So, I kept them and then four years later there was this opportunity to get them out and so I was like, oh yeah this has to happen because for two years everything was a blur and I couldn't even remember the important things and then it all came back to me. I started to converse again with the two men that Larry had worked with and they said, "Let us master this with Ivan," the engineer who had captured everything at Hellfire Studios; he wanted to do some more mixing and mastering because that was their expertise. So, I said, alright that's fine and they did all of that and we supplied the label with the finished masters and they wanted to do the artwork. I always asked for final approval on the artwork because I've seen some disastrous CD covers for Larry; including one that misspelled his last name (laughs). I remembered to always ask to go over it and they were nice enough to agree to that. So, we were looking over photographs and for a photographer; I wanted to use somebody from Ireland because Larry and I had gone to Ireland five times from 2015 until the time that he had passed; we were on this Ireland kick. So, I wanted to use pictures that had come from one of those visits and they did. One of the photographers came through and she just recently provided us with the photos and she had to do a lot of digging for them. The label uses their own graphic artists and we had to go back and forth with designs until we found the right one and I just approved the final artwork for the cover."
Proving that time heals or at the very least soothes all wounds, she has bounced back from adversity and embraced the Celtic connection; even going as far as having an original release date scheduled for March 17 of this year along with some more appropriate photos.
"The album is due out the end of April, it's being pre-sold right now. We moved it; it was going be released on St. Patrick's Day but it just wasn't coming together quick enough to get it out; so we pushed it to the end of April. We were trying to stick with the Irish theme but it didn't work out. The photos are from inside a club but there were pictures taken of Larry in Belfast and that's where most of these photos came from. There are a couple of photos taken in other places but the main photographs are from the other shoot."
Over the years, Tracey continued to develop her own talents and music career and she willingly shared them with her husband who had a way of coaxing them out of her and in return, she provided Larry with a trusted opinion when asked and the freedom to do what he did best; perform.
"I am a singer-songwriter and performer and I would go on tour with Larry. I don't do jazz, I do a bit of pop, rock, soul and country but he wanted me to go on tour with him and we would do stuff together all of the time. I'd be sitting in the crowd and he'd say, "I want my wife to come up on stage" and most of the time I didn't know that I was going to be singing with him because he was a master improviser with absolutely everything; not just with music but with everything in his life in general and it used to throw me because I wasn't used to that kind of spontaneity and Larry's adventurous spontaneity was something that I adored but when it came at me like that it would throw me off but I loved it. That would open me up; any kind of inhibitions that I had, he stripped them and he was a fantastic partner for me. I sung on stage with him all over the world with all of his bands and it was a fantastic experience, it was irreplaceable. So, as far as being his confidant, yeah it was in that kind of intimate way as to what he relied on me for; what do you think about that chord? What do you think of that note? What do you think of this or that person? Do you think they are shady? So, it was in that kind of intimate way as to what he relied on me for; kind of what a jazz wife would do (laughs). Victor Bailey loved me and Larry together and he used to say, "You guys are the cutest couple, Larry loves you to pieces" and he saw that about us and how I was becoming a jazz wife because we weren't married at the time and the other guys would chime in, "Yeah, you're on your way to becoming a jazz wife," like that was a dirty word (laughs) and I knew because most jazz wives have to play good cop bad cop like a manager would. You had to look out for your husband because a lot of these old jazz guys just want to play music and not be worried about who is screwing them over or who is pulling the wool over their eyes because that happened a lot."
"Larry's Last Swing with Ireland" is a six song collection of jazz standards and more, re-worked and re-issued as only the "Godfather" of jazz fusion was capable. According to Tracey, its availability will be everywhere; "Amazon is going to have it, it's being released in the US as well, with physical copies and digital downloads."
To find out more about Larry and/or Tracey Coryell, the new album and its availability; please visit www.Larrycoryell.net.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listings
Arts Council of Princeton 102 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-8777
Sun. 5 p.m. "Story & Verse" Winter Workshop
Blend Bar & Bistro 911 Highway 33 Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Sat. 4 p.m. "St Patrick's Day Party" w/ The Polish Nannies
Broken Goblet Brewing 2500 State Road Bensalem, PA
(267) 812-5653
Thurs. 7 p.m. Mike Estabrook
Wed. 8 p.m. Open Mic w/ Cara Cartney
All Shows 21+
Championship Bar 931 Chambers street Trenton
(609) 396-5457
Tuesday 8 p.m. "Jam Night" Hosted by Nikki & Caleb
Ages 21+
COARadio.com 125 South Main Street Hightstown
(609) 241-7103
Sun. 7 p.m. "Rock On Radio" feat. The Bonnerville Band, Somehow Sorry and Dave The Rave
Colonial Bowling and Entertainment2420 Brunswick Avenue Lawrence
(609) 882-7700
Thurs. 1 p.m.
Cooper's Riverview 50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 7 p.m. Fish Out of Water
Fri. 7 p.m. Ear Candy
Sat. 7 p.m. Spare Parts
Sun. 11 a.m. "Sunday Latin Brunch"
Mon. 7 p.m. "Sunny Monday Blues Jam" and Country Music Night
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke w/ Karen and Mark
All Events Ages 21+
Dacey's Pub 215 West Philadelphia Avenue Morrisville, PA
(215) 295-4838
Fri. 6 p.m. Acoustic Music Night
Wed. 8 p.m. Quizzo
Dog & Bull Brew House 810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Fri. 6 p.m. Stephan Anthony
Sat. 4 p.m. Gabe Guma
Sun. 4 p.m. Rachel & Ty
Eddington House Bensalem2813 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA
(215) 639-1220
Fri. 8 p.m. Kickbax Band
Sat. 8 p.m. Jimi & Jeff of Big House
Gleason's Bar6700 Mill Creek Road Levittown, PA
(215) 943-4781
Fri. 6 p.m. "Happy Hour" w/ (TBA)
Greenhouse 90 South Main Street New Hope, PA
(215) 693-1657
Thurs. 8 p.m. "Musicians Night Out" Hosted by Lovelight
Tues. 8 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Sam Ryan
Wed. 8 p.m. Trivia Hosted by Dwayne Dunlevy
Grounds For Sculpture 80 Sculptors way Hamilton
(609) 586-0616
Sat. 10:30 a.m. "Meditation and Mindfulness"
Grover's Mill Coffee House Princeton-Hightstown Road Princeton Junction
(609) 716-8771
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Anker
Hopewell Valley Vineyards 46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Fri. 4 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. Brian Elliot
Sat. 4 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. The Mac Paige Band
Sun. 1 p.m. Brooke DiCaro
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Sat. 7 p.m. Kindred Spirit
All shows 21+
Kellysbar14 Railroad Avenue Wrightstown
(609) 723-4242
Sat. 8 p.m. "Post St. Patty's Party" w/ Unleashed
Killarney's Publick House 1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Thurs. 5 p.m. "Girls Night Out" w/ Radio Fiction
Laurita Winery 85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Fri. 7 p.m. Pasta Night-All You Can Eat. $26 (Reservations Required)
Sat. 11:30 a.m./Sun. 12 p.m. "Cheers to Sunshine: Spring Has Sprung." $11 (Reservations Required)
McGuinn's Place 1781 Brunswick Avenue Lawrence
(609) 392-0599
Tues. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Ages 21+
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company909 Ray Avenue Croydon, PA
(215) 458-7081
Sun. 11 a.m. A Craft & Sip: "Chalking" w/ Michele.
New Egypt Flea Market Village933 Monmouth County Road Cream Ridge
(609) 758-2082
Sun. 8 a.m. "Spring Time Scavenger Hunt" Hosted by Rustic Relics
Newtown Brewing Company103 Penns Trail Newtown, PA
(215) 944-8609
Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Movie Night:
Fri. 7 p.m. Skylar Love
Sat. 6 p.m. Just Jeff
O'Fowley's Tavern & Grill200 State Road Croydon, PA
(215) 785-6998
Fri. 8 p.m. DJ Entertainment
Palmer SquareNassau Street Princeton
Thurs. 4 p.m. "Skating On The Square" $10/$12 (Includes skate rental)
Fri. 4 p.m. "Skating On The Square" $10/$12 (Includes skate rental)
Sat.12 p.m./4 p.m. "Skating On the Square" $10/$12 (Includes skate rental)
Sun 12 p.m./4 p.m. "Skating On the Square" $10/$12 (Includes skate rental)
Pasquale's Sports Bar9078 Mill Creek Road Levittown, PA
(267) 202-6268
Fri. 5 p.m. Happy Hour feat. (TBA)
Sat. 7 p.m. DJ or Live Band Entertainment
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Quizzo
Patriots Crossing 1339 River Road Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic Night
Wed. 7 p.m. "Quizzo"
Recklesstown Farm Distillery2800 Route 206 North Columbus
(609) 784-8046
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Trivia
Revere Restaurant802 River Road Ewing
(609) 882-6365
Wed. 7 p.m. David Boyd
Rosedale Mills101 Route 31 North Pennington
(609) 737-2008
Sat. 1 p.m. Outdoor Line Dancing. $10 (Rain date Sundays 12 p.m.)
Temperance House 5 South State Street Newtown, PA
(215) 944-8050
Thurs. 7p.m. "Blues Night" w/ Steve Guyger
Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia w/ Righteous Jolly
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night w/ Cara Cartney
The Buck Hotel1200 Buck Road Feasterville, PA
(215) 396-2002
Fri. 7 p.m. Love Junk
The Cool Cricket 216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 8 p.m. Asylum Choir
The Cure Insurance Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
The Five Four Bar & Grill 8919 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(215) 547-5525
Fri. 8 p.m. The Buzzer Band
The HOB Tavern 146 Second Street Bordentown
(609) 291-7020
Fri. 8 p.m. DJ Entertainment
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Thurs. 8 p.m. Trivia
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Stage
All shows 21+
Working Dog Winery 610 Windsor Perrineville Road Hightstown
(609) 371-6000
Sat. 1 p.m. The Williamsboy
Sun. 1 p.m. Bob Daley
WWFM 89.1 FM HD2 RadioMCCC Old Trenton Road West Windsor
Jazzon2.org
Mon. 7 p.m. "Danny Coleman's Got The Blues"
About the author:
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
EVENT PREVIEWS
The Newton Theatre presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on August 12th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7:00pm. In a career spanning over 50 years, dozens of albums, and too many shows to count, Marty Stuart charts a course through new territory at every chance possible.
BoDeans - 40th Anniversary Tour comes to Newton Theatre in August
(NEWTON, NJ) -- BoDeans are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, in 2026. In honor of the anniversary, the band has a special tour planned which comes to The Newton Theatre on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on August 14th
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram to Headline 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Christone "Kingfish" Ingram has been announced as the headliner for the 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. The free festival will be held on Saturday, August 15th on the Green. The music begins at noon and runs until 10:00pm. The lineup also includes James Langton New York All-Star Big Band, Richard Baratta Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet, LaBamba and the Hubcaps, and Dylan Triplett.
The Newton Theatre presents Supernova: A Tribute to Oasis on August 15th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- Supernova: A Tribute to Oasis comes to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm. They are an Oasis tribute band obsessed with recreating the raw energy, intensity and swagger of a real Oasis gig.
Rob Garrett's Neil Diamond: The Tribute comes to Atlantic City
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- The Grand at Golden Nugget Atlantic City presents Rob Garrett's Neil Diamond Tribute on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm. The longtime Las Vegas performer has been called "the best of the best" when it comes to tribute acts.
Showboat Resorts Garden Pier hosts RE-WIND 69' Music Festival
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- The inaugural RE-WIND 69' Music Festival at Showboat Resorts Garden Pier takes place August 14-16, 2026 - the anniversary weekend of the original Woodstock 1969 festival. This is a spectacular revival of a moment in American history when music united generations, healed communities, and sparked cultural change. For three unforgettable days, Atlantic City becomes a living time capsule, bringing the spirit of Woodstock and 1969 back to life through world-class recreations of the now legendary musical performances by a dynamic mix of New Jersey musicians along with national and international touring acts.
Widespread Panic to Play Three Nights at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Widespread Panic is taking over Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena for three nights from August 14-16, 2026 with shows at 8:00pm each night. The popular jam band has been together over three decades. Tickets are available for each show individually or as a 3-Day Pass.
The Temptations to Bring the Motor City to the Ocean City Boardwalk on August 18th
(OCEAN CITY, NJ) -- Legendary Motown group The Temptations look to continue their celebrated touring schedule with a summer stop at America's Greatest Family Resort, Ocean City, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and multiple GRAMMY Award winners celebrate more than six decades of hits with their acclaimed live performances, remain one of the most enduring and influential groups in American popular music. Renowned worldwide for their signature harmonies, impeccable choreography, and an iconic catalog of timeless hits, their legacy continues to span generations.
Prudential Center presents Reggae stars Beres Hammond and Beenie Man on August 20th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark will see a night of reggae's best when Beres Hammond and Beenie Man perform live at Prudential Center on Saturday, August 20, 2026 at 8:00pm. Experience the artistry of Beres Hammond, one of Jamaica's most esteemed vocalists, as he graces the stage with Marcia Griffiths and Baby Cham. It will be an exceptional evening featuring the captivating performances of reggae music, showcasing soulful melodies and heartfelt expressions.
FEATURED EVENTS
