Larry Coryell, Victor Bailey & Lenny White - Traffic (2006) [Hi-Res]

Chesky Records is pleased to announce the September 26 release of Traffic, CBW’s highly anticipated follow-up to their 2005 debut, Electric. The power trio/supergroup features the godfather of fusion guitar Larry Coryell, former Weather Report bassist Victor Bailey and veteran Return to Forever drummer Lenny White.

Traffic continues the CBW tradition of blending virtuosic original compositions with immaculately conceived interpretations of jazz and classic rock standards. Original songs on Traffic include go-for-the-throat throwdowns like “Judith Loves Jazz,” “Door #3” and “Overruled,” while covers of Thelonious Monk’s “Misterioso” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” are also featured.

Though Coryell & Co. have been acclaimed for their raw, in-your-face sound, they also know how to apply finesse when necessary. Traffic even finds CBW unplugging for gentle acoustic respites like “Jake’s Lullaby” and “Joyce’s Favorite.” “It’s not only a detour from the rest of the program, but I think it’s a needed one in the first decade of the 21st century,” Coryell says of the featured acoustic numbers. “I just don’t think we can go all the way through with loud rockin’ stuff, so we offer a few detours on this record.”

Other sonic highlights include a rare documented instance of Coryell playing slide on “Misterioso” and Bailey’s two-handed tapping technique on several tracks throughout the album. Recorded in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in New York, Traffic uncompromisingly captures the immediacy of uncompressed live music in a sonically rich environment; CBW just let the tape roll and channeled the spirit of the moment. “Monk told me one thing that I will never forget,” Coryell recalls.” He said, ‘Wrong is right, baby!’ And on this record, we all took his advice. We all made mistakes with authority and it sounds good.”

Traffic is the fourth of seven titles to be released as part of The New York Sessions series. This new series features the greatest jazz musicians of today recorded with Chesky Records’ state-of-the-art technology.