Larry Corban: guitarist, composer, producer, educator

Reviewed By:  Vince Lewis

The Circle Starts Here

Larry Corban

Nabroc Records NBR-001

www.larrycorban.com

Guitarist Larry Corban is currently based in New York City.  This is his debut album as a leader and features him in a trio format. Corban is joined by two fine veteran musicians, Harvie S (bass) and Steve Williams (drums).  Having a rhythm section of this caliber and experience certainly is a plus for any guitarist looking for terrific support and inspiration.

Corban has appeared with varied artists such as Oz Noy, Rick Stone, Gerry Neiwood, Roy Hargrove and several other notable players.  He has studied privately with Pat Martino and holds a B.M. in Jazz studies from Ithaca College.  Bassist Harvie S has held the # 1 Billboard chart in 2013 for his duo CD with pianist Kenny Barron.  Steve Willams held the drum chair with vocalist Shirley Horn for 20 years.

The majority of the tunes on the CD are Corban originals.  “Sideswiped” is an opening swing tune that gives the rhythm section a chance to shine.  The melody is modern in nature, and Corban has a signature dark guitar tone.  His single note solo moves through the chord changes well. Harvie S is as solid as ever underneath the steady barrage of steady eighth note phrases from Corban.  “Bossa Barb” is up next and Corban begins with a plaintive minor chord melody statement that moves into major for the bridge section.

“Enjoy The Ride” is a very up tempo selection that Harvie S. and Williams do a terrific job holding together and providing energy to.  “Seventh Dimension” is an overdubbed guitar duet that has a very staccato and punchy melody in 7/8 time.  “The Second She Leaves” features Harvie S with a plaintive bowed bass melody statement that moves into a pizzicato section.  His playing is always interesting and a pleasure to hear.

Other tunes included are “On The Sly,” “Blink Of An Eye,” “3 Hours Late,” “Roll The Dice” and “Story Inside My Head.”  There is a nice mix of rhythmic feels in Corban’s catalog here.  His compositions are very different than the average in their harmonic structure. One can definitely see the influence of his private instructors Vic Juris and Mick Goodrick on his playing.

The CD comes to a close with the Jazz Standard “East of The Sun” by Bruce Bowman.

Larry Corban has a very different voice as a Jazz Guitarist.  His single note lines are fluid and his chord solos very punchy and percussive.  Fans of the more outside and modern players should give him a listen.

IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION

by  Rotcod Zzaj

Larry Corban – THE CIRCLE STARTS HERE:  You can just feel the hip flowin’ through Larry’s guitar fingers on the jaunty little opener, “Sideswiped“…. it’s an “NYC” kinda’ hip, probably ‘coz that’s where Larry hails from.  With bassist Harvie S & drummer Steve Williams, you’ve got a jazz trio that won’t stop anytime soon after this 14-song gem (13 originals & one cover).  You’ll recognize in an instant on the bass-driven “Enjoy The Ride” that you’re listening to some of the best jazz players (yet) in the 21st century!  It was the “strut” feel on “On The Sly” that got my vote for personal favorite… one of those too-cool tunes that won’t ever drop off the playlist.  I give Larry & crew a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99.

BEBOP SPOKEN HERE

by Lance

CD Review: Larry Corban – The Circle Starts Here.

Larry Corban (gtr); Harvie S (bs); Steve Williams (dms).

Corban has worked with many big hitters including Robert Glasper, Big John Patton, Wayne Krantz and Roy Hargrove to mention but a few. This is his debut trio recording as a leader and it’s an impressive start. This is no “Jazz Metal” thrash but a selection of meaningful originals by Corban plus one standard.

The comments below are mainly his.

Sideswiped: Dedicated to Cannonball and Lee Morgan.. Boppy and swingy and harmonically sound.

Bossa Barb: I quote. “relates to those gorgeous women you dream about.” (I played this track twice and it worked!)  Enjoy the Ride: Goes off at tempo de lick and rubber stamps  the guitarists technique.

Seventh Dimension: In 7/8 time. It was originally in 3/4 then it was called Third Dimension. Steel strung acoustic does the business on this one.  The Second She Leaves: “I’m gonna sit down and write a book…next time”. Listen to Harvie S’ bowed bass.  On The Sly: Is another 7/8 workout that was morphed from a 4/4 version called On The Fly.  Blink of an Eye: In 5/4, a description of a short-lived relationship. (If you say so Larry! Personally I think it’s a terrific track irrespective of the background.)  3 Hours Late: A ballad that was written whilst waiting for a lady – at least I got a tune out of it he says. (I’d want more than a tune!)

Roll The Dice:  Refers to online dating – “You never know what you’ll get.” Story Inside My Head: Countdown changes in 5/4 with a new melody. Dream Wheel: Written overlooking a ski slope in Steamboat Springs, Co. Wolf’s Den: named after a friends club in the above resort  Hmmm: Unaccompanied fingerstyle ballad.  East of the Sun: Listen to Williams’ brushwork.  Maybe I cheated on this one by quoting mainly from the booklet but I couldn’t top them!

One for guitar buffs and music lovers.

Larry Corban – The Circle Starts Here. was released in June on Nabroc Records.

GAPPLEGATE GUITAR AND BASS BLOG
by  Grego Applegate Edwards

Larry Corban, The Circle Starts Here

Guitarist Larry Corban embodies and carries forward the jazz guitar legacy we have inherited from some of the masters of the later fifties-early sixties. I mean Wes, Burrell, Kessel. . . all of the heavily swinging players you can think of get an extension in the playing of Larry Corbin on the nicely turned album The Circle Starts Here (Nabroc Records 001).

This is guitar-bass-drums trio finessing and fineness all the way through. Larry teams with the always-on bassist Harvie S and a swinging Steve Williams on the drums.

It’s a nice set of 14 originals and standards. Larry has some excellent chordal-soloing ideas and rapid single-line prowess. He puts it all to good use here. What’s especially encouraging and pleasurable about the CD is how Larry and company find a way to evoke the tradition without merely dishing it back to us as it has been handed down. They find a way to make it new. If you are a jazz guitar appreciator this will make you smile

ROOTSTIME MAGAZINE

by Jan van Leersum

translated from Belgium to English by Google Translater

A debut, this CD Larry Corban and his trio , consisting of Corban ( GTR ) , bassist Harvie S , and drummer Steve Williams, who was the drummer of 25 years, Shirley Horn . All songs except “East of the sun” ( Brooks Bowman ) are written by Larry Corban .

The songs range from upbeat 4/4 in “Enjoy the ride” , medium tempo swing in ” sideswiped ” introspective bossa in ” Roll the dice ” a beautiful ballad “The second she leaves” with bowed bass Harvie S.

Apart from the songs on electric guitar ( Gibson L5 ) there are also songs on the acoustic guitar , including the stunning solo piece ” Hmm ” and documents which are both used as in ” Seventh Dimension” . The trio is completely free in the burner ” On the sly ” , this CD is a must for lovers of jazz guitar and acoustic recordings, the fans of John McLaughlin’s album “My Goals Beyond” and Pat Metheny ‘s ” One quiet night ” certainly will enjoy this CD.

JAZZ SENSIBILITIES

Larry Corban, The Circle Starts Here

by Icrom Bigrad

New York City based guitarist Larry Corban along with upright bassist Harvie S and drummer Steve Williams teamed up to form a jazz trio. Though Larry Corban is less known on the jazz scene and his band mates have plenty of playing experience with Steve Williams having played the drums for more than 20 years with Shirley Horn, it does not lessen his ability to create an equal partner musically on his endeavor, The Circle Starts Here.

Corban is a talented songwriter as well as a gifted guitarist and both are on full display in his trio’s debut entitled The Circle Starts Here. The album contains 13 original songs written by Larry Corban and one was a contributed by Bowman Brooks.

Like so many musicians, Larry Corban draws inspiration from other musicians and composers in all of his music. As a matter of fact he has a picture one of those artists named Django Reinhardt in the room where he practices.

The Circle Starts Here opens with “Sideswiped” which you can immediately hear his distinct style with very clean lines and smooth chords, they all come together to get the album off to a burning start. As the songs continue you can definitely hear the inspiration he says he draws from Django Reinhardt who was a Belgian guitarist and pioneer of the swing guitar style.

Throughout the album it is obvious that the combination of the bass and drums from band mates Harvie S (upright bassist) and Steve Williams (drummer) was well thought out by Corban. Each element seems to feed off each other and create the perfect mix of sound.

Despite being a debut recoding, Corban plays with a much more old soul style which came out in several songs. He also shows a bit of a darker side to go along with the faster up-tempo selections on the album.

With the final selection of “East of the Sun,” the trio finishes the album with their take on an old jazz song written by Bowman Brooks. The final result is a fantastic jazz guitar album that you have to check out for yourself, a listen worth adding to any collection – and certainly if you are a jazz guitar enthusiast.

Album Tracks: Sideswiped; Bossa Barb; Enjoy the Ride; Seventh Dimension; The Second She Leaves On the Sly; Blink of an Eye; 3 Hours Late; Roll the Dice; Story Inside My Head; Dreamwheel; Wolf’s Den Hmm; East of the Sun.

Players: Harvie S (Bassist) and Steve Williams (Drummer)

Record Label: Nabroc Label