CD 1
1. Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy
2. After the Cosmic Rain
3. Captain Señor Mouse
4. Theme to the Mothership
5. Space Circus
6. The Game Maker
7. Vulcan Worlds
8. The Shadow Of Lo
9. Beyond The Seventh Galaxy
10. Song To The Pharoah Kings
CD 2
1. Dayride
2. Sofistifunk
3. No Mystery
4. Celebration Suite
5. Medieval Overture
6. Sorceress
7. The Romantic Warrior
8. Majestic Dance
9. The Magician
10. Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant
Chick Corea - Piano, electric
piano, Fender Rhodes, organ, harpsichord,
gongs. clavinet, synthesisers, percussion,
marimba, Mini Moog, ARP Odyssey, Polymoog,
vocals
Stanley Clarke - Electric
bass, acoustic bass, Alembic Bass with Instant
Flanger, piccolo bass, fuzz bass, bell-tree,
handbells, Yamaha organ, synthesiser, chimes,
vocals
Lenny White - Drums, percussion,
congas, bongoes, marimba, timpani, timbales,
suspended cymbals, alarm clock
Bill Connors (CD1, tracks
1-6) - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Al Di Meola (CD1, tracks
7-10; CD2) - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar,
12-string guitar, soprano guitar, handbells,
slide whistle
Some concerts stay in the
memory for years - perhaps forever. I still
remember vividly a concert at Oxford Polytechnic
in the 1970s when I and some fellow musicians
were deeply impressed by Return to Forever.
The group was formed in 1972 by keyboardist
Chick Corea, and the version I saw included
guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke
and drummer Lenny White. Now the same group
has re-formed and is on tour. This double
CD has been released to coincide with the
reunion.
The group started out as
an exciting but fairly restrained band comprising
Chick with vocalist Flora Purim, saxist Joe
Farrell, bassist Stanley Clarke and percussionist
Airto Moreira. Their first album, Return
to Forever, appeared in 1972 and their
second album, Light as a Feather, described
in its title the comparatively gentle style
of the band, based mainly on Latin-American
rhythms. It is a pity that this new compilation
omits any examples of that band's work, especially
as their second album included such masterpieces
as Spain and Captain Marvel.
When the personnel changed, the music became
more forceful - predominantly in jazz-rock
mode. Stanley Clarke stayed with the group
but the drumming was handled by Lenny White,
and two guitarists - Bill Connors and then
Al Di Meola - added to the band's power.
This double album includes
tracks from four of the band's albums recorded
between 1973 and 1976: Hymn of the Seventh
Galaxy, Where Have I Known You Before, No
Mystery and Romantic Warrior. The
selection provides a good sample of the quartet's
work, starting with Hymn of the Seventh
Galaxy, a jazz-fusion anthem which illustrates
the band's energetic delivery as well as Chick
Corea's ability to write catchy melodies which
are immediately appealing. Corea's compositions
also make an excellent isfor jazz improvisation,
as you can hear in a track like Space Circus.
But it is the exciting tightness of the musicianship
that captures the listener, with Stanley Clarke's
unique bass guitar underpinning every track.
Lenny White's drumming is also exciting, although
it tends to be repetitive and ultimately becomes
rather wearing.
If the vigorous clatter sometimes
feels overwhelming, you can take refuge in
the gentler brilliance of a tune like No
Mystery: a lesson in beautiful composition
and subtle precision, with the guitarist and
bassist switching to acoustic instruments.
This contrasts with the bombast of the following
Celebration Suite, which may
remind you of the pomp-rock that people like
Rick Wakeman and Emerson, Lake & Palmer
were turning out in the 1970s. For all the
bluster of such pieces, Corea has often flavoured
his compositions with tasty Spanish or Latin-American
rhythms, as he does here.
It remains to be seen whether
the reunited Return to Forever can match the
brilliance exhibited in this collection, but
at least it's a reminder of just how good
the group was in its heyday.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Concord
0888072308473
