REVIEWS:
Post your comments about Chick Corea
(reviewed by Rollo)
HIGH POINTS: Sometime Ago/La Fiesta, Return To Forever, What Games Shall We Play Today, Crystal Silence. LOW POINTS: None.
After a couple of solo albums here and there, Chick eventually went fully electric after his collaboration with Miles on Bitches Brew, although this album, though as the first fusion album of his, sounds nothing like it. It's still fusion, of course. But it's Latino fusion! And ever since hearing this album, I've never doubted one thing: this album is the best fusion album ever. So far, at least. But why is it so good? Well, first of all, it's very accessible when comparing it with other fusion albums. Second, the instrumentation is so tasty; at points I don't even know if I'm having an orgasm or not. And third, apart from all the Latino stuff, there's not a single weak spot in sight. So there you go. And of course you want details.
And that's what you get. Chick only does the electric piano wanking here, but he does it oh so well. Right from the beginning in the title cut, he manages to put three different tunes into one and pumps everything ten times larger than it could ever be. All parts of that tune are very very neat and make it clear that you're indeed up for a very rewarding listen. At least, I am. "Crystal Silence", though the weakest cut on the album, still manages to tear me down completely, because of the emptiness; so you see, the track sounds pretty much like the title's description of it. But why is it still so good? Well, it could be the effective soloing in there, but I'll go for the atmosphere here; it surely sounds like a slow breeze winding through your local summerish landscapes. Just dig it.
And then we arrive at "What Games Shall We Play Today", a short, but effective, beautiful and blessing fusion-pop tune that is top-notch. Whoever thinks I'm wrong will receive evil stuff. Just evil stuff. But we're up for something even greater in "Sometime Ago/La Fiesta". You know, you may hate the noodling introduction that lasts for 8 minutes, but if you liked "Crystal Silence", I shouldn't see any reason for not liking this part. The real song, "Sometime Ago", commences picking up steam, though, at that mark and transforms into a terrific fusion-pop tune just like the previous song. After that, still, we're up for the grand finale in "La Fiesta". And there may have been many chilling moments in jazz, but this one is surely one of the most amazing ones. You'll just listen to this one, though, as words can't describe it. It's a gorgeous theme it has, though. So there you go. A describtion of the best fusion album ever. But now that I take a look at what I just wrote, I notice that I forgot to mention the musicians playing here. We've, of course, got Chick, the elaborate and undoubtedly perfect electric piano player; Stanley Clarke, electric bassist wizard, 'nuff said; Joe Farrell, contributing delicate sax and flute solos that floor me all the time; and the husband and wife (at that time), Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, percussionist/drummer and singer respectively. And they're both a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Now you can leave in peace.
Post your comments / reviews for this album
Index | Main band/artist reviews page