Julie Coryell – Jazz Author, Manager, Singer

Julie Coryell – jazz author, manager, singer, songwriter, actress, and more – passed away unexpectedly on May 10, at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. She was 61 years old, and had been living at the Victory Lake Nursing Home in Hyde Park, NY. She collaborated with award-winning photographer Laura Friedman on the book, Jazz Rock Fusion: The People, The Music, first published in 1978 (republished in 2000), and containing in-depth interviews with 58 musicians associated with jazz rock fusion--including Jaco Pastorius, John McLaughlin, Carla Bley, Ron Carter, Randy and Michael Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Joe Zawinul, Dave Liebman, Wayne Shorter, among the many others – and the only interview granted by Miles Davis during his semi-retirement. The interviews were conducted by Ms. Coryell, and are accompanied by the striking photo-portraits of Ms. Friedman.

Howard Mandel, in his JazzBeyondJazz blog, places Ms. Coryell in a league with the likes of Laurie Pepper and Sue Graham Mingus – women who managed their musician-husbands’ careers, while simultaneously pursuing their own careers. Ms. Coryell co-wrote and performed on several recordings with then-husband Larry Coryell and raised their two sons, Murali and Julian (both of whom are now accomplished guitarists). She was involved in the performing arts throughout her life, first appearing on Broadway and film in the 1960s. From 1986-2003, Ms. Coryell lived in Woodstock, NY, where she founded the Woodstock Experimental Writers Theater.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, May 19th, at Woodstock Jewish Congregation in Woodstock. She leaves her two sons, Murali Coryell and Julian Coryell, and two grandchildren.