“Murali Coryell takes a slightly different tact with this effort, recorded in Austin, TX and replete with some Tex-Mex touches and political references too. Self-produced, Murali is increasingly taking more projects into his own hands. While his father, Larry, has had a career as an iconic fusion jazz guitarist both as a sideman and leader, Larry’s best moments have arguably been as a sideman. Murali does both, too, but seems determined to flourish in the role of the leader. We still hear the pulls of jazz and blues, with some pop creeping in on this effort too. And, we see the singer/guitarist/songwriter continuing to mine that soul-blues approach that colored 2009’s Sugar Lips and 2014’s Restless Mind. Playing mostly in a trio format, with some guests sprinkled in, the album begins with the title track, a blistering essay on one Texas senator’s failed Presidential candidacy. I think you know who he is referring to. Guitarist Louie Ortega guests on second guitar here and on the Tex -Mex track “Tejanos,” the first track Murali wrote in Spanish that would easily fit on a Los Lobos album. Saxophonist Bill Evans returns the favor on “Tuff Love” as Murali played on a few tracks on Evans’ own recent release, Rise Above. “Masquerade” pays tribute to George Benson, one of the many great musicians who visited the Coryell household when Murali was growing up. “Dysfunctional Child” is a rather painful autobiographical ditty that fortunately closes with optimism. Coryell covers Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” and at the suggestion of blues man Zac Harmon, renders the soul classic “Slip Away” as well. The others are all originals. Despite a couple of misses, the album carries plenty of strong moments. “Let’s Straighten It Out” is perhaps the best example of Coryell’s meshing soul into both his vocals and guitar. With this, his eighth album, It seems like Murali is getting more confident, showing us that he no longer needs high profile producers or mentors to forge his way. -Jim Hynes” - Jim Hynes

“As a son of one of the most vital guitarists of the last fifty years, Murali Coryell will always be linked to Larry Coryell (which admittedly, I just did here) but eight albums into his own career, the younger Coryell has clearly excelled in forging his own path. Mr. Senator continues with Murali’s tastefully soulful stamp on blues-rock, a consistent effort from the singer and songwriter as well as guitarist. Often sounding more like a spawn of Stevie Ray Vaughan than of Larry, Murali continues to excel in the blues-rock arena with the same potency as his dad his done in the world of jazz and the world he practically invented, jazz-rock. The similarities to Vaughan come more honestly than you might think, though: both are indebted to the guitar titan Jimi Hendrix, a man who Coryell knew personally as a child. And like both of these guys before him, Coryell’s backed most of the time by just drums (Ernie Durawa) and bass (either his band bassist Chris Alcaraz or bass legend Tony Levin). “Mr. Senator” took its inspiration from the decidedly uninspiring election cycle that just mercifully ended, and the funky soul tune with an irresistible hook showcases Coryell’s knack for sharp composing, tasty licks and a deep, grainy vocal all wrapped up in one. The autobiographical “Dysfunctional Child” strongly follows up on the title track, a different kind of blues that reveals that growing up in a household where the head of it was making some music history wasn’t always a day at the beach. On the other hand, the perks of music legends like George Benson showing up at the house left a positive mark on Coryell as he was moved to cover the Leon Russell jazz ballad “This Masquerade” in smoky style similar Benson’s hit version of it, but Coryell’s own, blues-filtered take becomes apparent during his solo turn. In another nod to nostalgia, Coryell goes into power trio mode and delivers a scratchy version of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” Coryell departs from the trio format when he brings on Bill Evans to contribute a sax stack and sax solo that’s a shot of soul giving a boost to “Tuff Love”, and called in Louie Ortega from the Texas Tornadoes for a second guitar on a couple of tracks and an extra vocal on “Dysfunctional Child.” The man from Connecticut shows more fealty to Texas-bred blues with a believable stab at Tex-Mex music; “Tejanos” even goes as far as Spanish lyrics, and the jaunty mood just feels like the perfect way to end the album. Mr. Senator dropped last month on Shake-It-Sugar Records.” - S. Victor Aaron

“Murali Coryell – Mr. SenatorAccessible, blues-flavored rock/soul is Murali Coryell's stock in trade. Mr. Senator features both original compositions and covers. The title track (about “a certain candidate who [Coryell] found particularly disturbing”) has an inviting melody and warm and appealing vocals from Coryell. Oddly, his guitar solo is mixed low relative to the other instruments; Louie Ortega's second solo is mixed more appropriately. The AOR-flavored “Dysfunctional Child” is an autobiographical tune in which Murali gets his points across without oversharing. “Tuff Love” is a conventional rocker with some beefy horn work courtesy Bill Evans. The romantic, slinky minor-key “You Blew My Mind” feels like a late-night club set closer. Murali turns in a credible cover of Stevie Wonder's “Higher Ground,” focusing on the blues textures within the classic song. A slow-burn reading of Joe Louis Walker's “Slip Away” gives the guitarist a chance to stretch out. “My Pedal Board” is a fun but relatively inconsequential song in an old-fashioned rock 'n' roll style, with call-and-response backing vocals. It's a fine excuse for a hyperactive solo, though. “Tejanos” sounds very much like its title would suggest, and features Coryell – sounding a lot like his dad on vocals – singing in Spanish.” - Bill Kopp

“Murali Coryell-Mr. Senator (Shake It Sugar Records SSR-03) Having grown up surrounded by some of the best music the world had to offer, and the son of jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, it comes as no surprise that Murali Coryell is one of the hottest, most well-rounded guitarists in the business.  Mr. Senator features a greatly, diverse collection of tunes in a variety of styles that ranges from blues and soul to tunes with a distinct international flair.  Murali, who began his musical venture on drums, quickly switched his interest to guitar.  He got his start in the business touring with Richie Havens.  From there he signed on with Duke Robillard before flying solo.  Aside from touring with his own band, Coryell has toured with Joe Louis Walker, saxophonist Bill Evans, his father, jazz guitarist Larry Coryell and more.  Backing Coryell on Mr. Senator are Ernie Durawa on drums & percussion, Chris Alcaraz on bass (1, 3, 6, 7, 9 &10) and special guests Bill Evans on sax (cut 3), Louis Ortega on second guitar (cuts 1 & 10) and second vocals (cut 2) and Tony Levin on bass (cuts 2, 4, 5 & 8).  The album consists of 6 tunes written (or co-written) by Murali and 4 well-chosen covers.  This band is tight, to say the very least.  The musicianship is unquestionably top-notch,  powerful and passionate.  While this album is, in some respects, all over the map, it flows beautifully.  Blues, soul, R&B, touches of jazz, pop, rock and more blend seamlessly.  The more I listen to this, the more impressed I am with it.  One of the things that I liked most about this recording is that the songs are front and center, the most important thing happening.  There is no stroking of egos and no hot-dogging.  This boils down to three guys doing what they love and what they do best.  With the election fast approaching, I was particularly taken with the title track.  Musicians, and especially blues artists, have always shown an interest in the political climate.  Mr. Senator is one of those albums that will never grow old.  Murali Coryell and company hit it out of the park.  This is as good as it gets.  With 8 albums to his credit, this cat has nothing to prove.  His guitar work is tastefully done, tearing it up when the occasion called for it and showing remarkable restraint in other cases.  Lovers of guitar will find this one particularly interesting.  The business is full of superb guitarists...Murali Coryell is second to none.  - Bill WilsonWebsite - http://www.muralicoryell.com/FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/Murali-Coryell-152471561489479/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Murali+Coryell” - Bill Wilson

“Murali Coryell, Mr. Senator. Sometimes it starts in the genes. Murali Coryell’s father, guitar legend Larry Coryell, likely supplied some of the innate talent in his son. But that only goes so far, and in this case the younger Coryell took up the cause and brought it all the way home. He starts with a blues-base that never gets entangled in too much orthodoxy, and is sharp enough to carve out its own place in the world. Coryell can play anything, but the way he stays on the soul side of the street speaks to his central core. Looking at some of the non-original songs like Clarence Carter’s “Slip Away,” Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” and Latimore’s “Let’s Straighten It Out” shows a unflappable belief in his own abilities. Otherwise, there would be no point in getting within a mile of this material. Coryell also is smart enough to seek out the best supportive players too, like drummer Ernie Durawa, bassist Tony Levin, guitarist/vocalist Louie Ortega, and saxophonist Bill Evans. That’s what anyone would call a super band no matter where they’re from. In the end, though, on an album like this it all rests on the guitar, because that’s where someone like Murali Coryell is going to make his name. Mr. Senator puts that name up in lights, and as soon as the man’s original songs equal those of his covers is the time when the world will become his. ” - Bill Bentley

“SHAKE IT SUGAR MURALI CORYELL/Mr. Senator: The guitar playing apple didn't fall far from the guitar playing tree but using his upbringing spent around boundary pushers has propelled him to craft his own vibe---and not for the sake of rebellion or distancing himself from his pop. A tasty contemporary set with one foot in the past reflecting all the places he's been and influences he's soaked up, Coryell has his own take on what's mainstream these days and focuses his vision well. Certainly a nice lodestone for boundary pushers everywhere that don't want to go too far off the reservation. ” - Chris Spector

“Murali Coryell's 5 Tips for Great Live Recordings  ” - Michael Molenda

“RIFFS-Songwriting Murali Coryell WRITING YOUR OWN TUNES IS THE most important contribution any musician can make," declares blues guitarist Murali Coryell, whose fifth solo album is entitled "The Same Damn Thing" [Murali's Music Records]. "And it's the best way to develop your own style, because if you write the song, it's going to come out as you." Coryell is no stranger to America's musical roots. The son of jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Murali grew up surrounded by giants such as Carlos Santana, B.B. King, and Miles Davis, and his devotion to the blues is unswerving. "Blues, rock and roll, and jazz are America's cultural contribution to the world," he says. "But there isn't going to be another B.B. King or Buddy Guy, so we have to absorb what they've done, and make sure we keep the music right." But while Coryell believes blues musicians must be firmly steeped in the blues tradition, he maintains that players must strive to evolve the style. To that end, he tries to avoid obvious patterns when he composes. "I've found it's really important to not rely so much on the guitar," he says. "It's a riff-oriented instrument, so you tend to play and write stuff you already know. What you should do is write something that comes naturally to your head, and then translate it to the instrument, rather than the other way around. I also have a secret songwriting weapon in my seven-year-old son Charlie, who sometimes comes up with titles for me. A song starts with an idea, and I'm the kind of person who is most creative when there's a structure established--like a song title. My family provides tons of inspiration, because blues is life and life is blues.” - Madaline Goldstein

“Murali Coryell Live Shake-It-Sugar Records Yes, Murali Coryell is Larry’s kid. But to leave it at that would be doing a disservice to the son. He’s a fine player who doesn’t play jazz, but a blues-soul hybrid that suits his playing, and his gravelly, soulful singing to a T. This CD and DVD set is the perfect vehicle for what Coryell does, as he guides the band throughout and lets the songs go where they may. “I Can’t Give You Up” is a fine soul tune that runs nine minutes and finds the leader of the band breaking it down and throwing in parts of other songs, including an extended “Feelin’ Alright.” It’s a wonderfully bluesy, funky tune that even lets his soloing step a bit outside of the usual pentatonic runs you might expect to hear. His tendency to run with whatever’s happening even stretches to his telling the club owner to come up on stage to play the B3 during “Sugar Lips.” Amazingly, the train never comes close to derailing. Coryell proves the amiable host right off the bat, introducing the song “In The Room With Jimi” by telling how his dad and Hendrix were friends. His dad, he says, has told him Hendrix picked him up out of his crib and talked to him when he was three months old. The song then runs us through the story, backed by Hendrix-inspired chord changes and soloing that reminds you of the legend but is never a slavish imitation. And, that’s the story of a lot of this music. It’s soul music with Coryell’s twist that’s allowed to expand even as the song is being played. No doubt dad is proud of his kid and the path he’s chosen.” - JH