Artist:     Murali Coryell

Album:     Made in Texas

Label:     Shake-It-Sugar

Release Date:     3.5.2019

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Murali Coryell follows up his 2016 Mr. Senator, with another album of the place he now calls home, Austin, TX. This time he eschews the political and digs deeper into Tex-Mex with help from some former members of the Texas Tornadoes. One of those members, drummer Ernie Durawa, was instrumental in bringing Coryell to Austin and is a driving force here as he was on the previous effort. The renowned keyboardist Augie Meyers graces six tracks and fellow Texas Tornadoes bassist Speedy Sparks is aboard for three. Again, Coryell self-produced, broadening his blues-soul scope to include pedal steel, horns and musical support from blues icon Paul Oscher (piano, harmonica) on three selections.

This is the first album Murali has issued since the passing of his father, Larry, the iconic fusion jazz guitarist. The opening track with Murali on wah wah guitar and his dad on lead is the only live version (June 23, 2012) of his dad’s “Herman Wright,” about a renowned jazz bassist who recorded with Chet Baker, Yusef Lateef, Billy Mitchell, and Sonny Stitt. It is so different from the rest of the material that it could only be placed at the beginning or end of the disc, and Murali had recently received permission to use the tune. It first appeared on his dad’s studio album Lady Coryell in 1968. Murali appropriately dedicates the album to his mom and dad.

Beyond this opener, we first hear Coryell digging deep into the blues, before he branches out into the Tex-Mex and other genres. The next five in the sequence are originals including “Ain’t It A Shame” with Paul Oscher featured on blazing harmonica for one the clear standout tracks, while both Meyers and Sparks appear on “Big Love” as well as that one. All but “Ain’t It a Shame” are played in a conventional trio or quartet format. Keyboardist Peggy Stern adds background vocals to “C & J Café” for a nice touch.

The album turns when they nod to the most famous of all Texas Tornadoes, Doug Sahm, on “I Got It Bad”, and again on Meyers’ “All I Ever Needed” where Coryell’s vocals sound eerily like Sahm’s. Other selected covers include the funky take on Luther “Snake Boy” Johnson’s “Woman Don’t Lie” first recorded in 1972, with Oscher on both piano and harp. Coryell turns blues shouter on the requisite soul tune replete with the horns blaring away, an extended fiery take on Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “I Pity the Fool.” Oscher’s ”Satan’s Woman” has its writer curiously laying out, letting the horns and vocalist Stern contribute instead. Murali closes reverently with an acoustic version of Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” extracting every drop of soul from the song in a superior vocal performance.

Made in Texas may be a bit inconsistent in places, but it’s filled with some great moments, especially in the latter half.

With this, his ninth album, the talented guitarist and soulful vocalist Murali Coryell continues to expand his repertoire, yet his deep soul certainly remains intact.

—Jim Hynes