FBPO Review
Forever
Corea, Clarke & White
Audio CD
I’ve been privileged to see Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White in concert many times, sometimes together, other times with various combinations of other brilliant musicians. One memorable highlight was seeing the classic Return to Forever reunion tour, with Al DiMeola, in 2008.
Recently, I was dazzled yet again as I witnessed Corea, Clarke and White, this time with fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and guitar wizard Frank Gambale, performing some of my favorite music in ways that continue to inspire and impress audiences to no end. The current tour, part of a double bill with the incredible Zappa Plays Zappa band, coincides with the latest release from Corea, Clarke & White, simply titled Forever. In addition to the mighty trio, the two-disc set, released by Concord Jazz in June (CRE-32627-02), includes Ponty and original RTF guitarist Bill Connors, as well as a soulful, gutsy, two-tune cameo appearance by funky diva Chaka Khan. Similar to the live performance, Forever is a mix of acoustic, straight-ahead jazz, funk, fusion and vintage RTF classics.
Disc One, recorded live, begins with the timeless standard “On Green Dolphin Street,” followed by the Bill Evans signature tune, “Waltz for Debby.” The rest of the set includes the Chick-penned “Bud Powell,” honoring the bebop piano giant, and an exquisite Stanley Clarke original, “La Canción de Sofia,” featuring beautiful arco playing from Stanley and a dazzling Stanley-esque pizzicato solo. Rounding out the disc is a sampling of familiar selections from the Chick Corea songbook, namely, “Windows,” “Hackensack,” “No Mystery” and “Señor Mouse.”
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Disk Two sounds more like the old (electric) RTF, beginning with “Captain Marvel,” where Chick switches to electric piano and synth, followed by another rendition of “Señor Mouse,” this time adhering more to the original recorded version from the ’70s (remember “Captain Señor Mouse?). Connors’ fiery guitar playing and Stanley’s powerful electric bass work capture the RTF essence spot-on. Next is “Crescent,” a medium-tempo tune, with Chick returning to acoustic piano. The in-studio banter at the song’s conclusion almost gives the listener the illusion of the being present at a closed rehearsal.
Jean-Luc Ponty makes his entrance on “Armando’s Rhumba,” at times sounding like he’s paying homage to legendary jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli. Next is “Renaissance,” a Ponty original, which he also recorded with Clarke and Al DiMeola on their Rite of Strings release. The tune’s haunting, four-bar vamp is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Chaka Khan joins the band on “High Wire - The Aerialist,” a toe-tapping, up-tempo swing tune, somewhat uncharacteristic of RTF, but a crowd pleaser for sure. Chaka’s second number is the Gershwin classic, “I Love You Porgy” (or, if you prefer, “I Loves You Porgy”). On both tunes, she is clearly enjoying herself, navigating sometimes-complex arrangements, holding back nothing. She is even heard chiming, “Hello, Jean-Luc!” at the end of “Porgy,” as if to greet the arrival of the next shift of performers.
The remainder of the set, beginning with “After the Cosmic Rain,” is classic RTF at its finest, right down to Chick’s trademark Rhodes sound, Bill’s piercing guitar lines and Stanley’s hundred-mile-an-hour bass solos, all augmented by Jean-Luc’s fusion fiddle playing. Stanley’s slap bass lines are extra funky in “Space Circus” and Lenny, of course, is strong and steady throughout. The set closes with a spirited trio rendition of Chick’s “500 Miles High,” recorded live. The all-acoustic arrangement showcases the talents of all three jazz icons, pulling out all the stops.
While the music has been tweaked and modified over the years, Forever is genuine RTF, capturing all its uniqueness, remaining true to its trailblazing originality. While during the live show, the crowd delighted in ample doses of “Romantic Warrior,” “Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy” and “No Mystery,” it’s perhaps noteworthy that on Forever, the acoustic set comes first, followed by the electric, exactly the opposite of what I’ve seen at virtually every Chick Corea concert I’ve attended. It’s okay, though; you’re free to listen to the discs in whatever order you please!
 Jean-Luc Ponty |
 Lenny, Chick, Stanley |
 Bill Connors |
At age 70, Chick Corea is showing no signs of slowing down. Ditto for Stanley, who, at a mere 60, plays mostly upright on the Concord release. In fact, during the live concert, old Stan seemed to be enjoying himself as much as ever, especially during the (obligatory?) “School Days” jam, the show’s finale. Bill Connors’ playing on this recording sounds just as fresh as it did in the mid-‘70s and (quasi RTF alum) Jean-Luc Ponty brings a welcome new dimension to the music, enhancing the recording substantially. For true Return to Forever fans, there’s nothing not to like about Forever, both live and on the new CD set.
Review by Jon Liebman
September 2011
Forever is available for purchase here.