Word: corea
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...heard, seems a bit ethereal. Herbie Hancock's music is similar to what Miles himself is doing now. And Tony Williams's old Lifetime added a harsh virtuosity that set it apart from McLaughlin's more lyrical intensity, while retaining the solid rhythm section of good rock music. Chick Corea? Well, his band is...different...
...subtle difference--you'll have to see it to appreciate it. Because the listener is first confronted with a host of similarities between Corea's Return to Forever and McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra. For one thing, there is an emphasis on individual, yet simultaneous virtuosity--an easy semantic way to take note of the disciplined nature of both music and musicians. Each rests securely on a foundation provided by the rhythm section (In fact, bassist Stan Clarke is arguably Return to Forever's best musician). On record, these similarities are enhanced--certain themes and often whole passages will simply sound...
...first thing you notice about Chick Corea's piano playing is the extent of his source material. He has a vast command of his musical resources--styles, phrases and even methods of attack. And as his Sanders Theater performance developed some of those resources recurred. Much of Corea's music has a distinct Spanish influence. Nothing tangible, mind you, it's more a question of "feel." My notes on this show are full of references to "latin style" riffs or themes. A new tune, called "Sometime Ago" moved through several varied themes and each had a distinctly Spanish/Latin/South American tint...
...Brasil '66. (And this may be what I mean by Latin influences). The outfit that showed up at Sanders has an album, Hymn to the Seventh Galaxy, and all those Mahavishnu comparisons. But it wasn't the same. This band is subdued, even sedate. One t-shirt. No dashikis. Corea himself is dressed in late period St. Grottlesex. Solid introductions. Then seven-eight fingersnaps and "Hymn to the Seventh Galaxy" seems half over. "Hymn" is basic Return to Forever, a good chance to define the group's specifics. This music is thematic; unlike most jazz, there is not a great...
...same time, there was a good deal of inspired soloing, from guitarist Bill Connors and Corea. Connors has developed a unique hybrid sound, one that draws equally from the last five years or so of rock guitar playing. He has a very heavy tone, almost ponderous and always close to the listener; the result of combined use of sustain and vibrato from the usual bank of foot switches filtered through a slightly open wah-wah pedal. You can hear shades of everyone from Eric Clapton to John McLaughlin. His solos were short, to maintain a structural balance, but beautifully constructed...