One of the frustrating things about albums distributed by Proper Distribution is that they don't attach any accompanying blurb meaning that one has to read the album notes. To do so usually requires some form of Jodrell Bank powered magnification. This isn't helped by the pastel shades and miniscule text used by the designers of the 'artwork'.
Of course one could go a-googling but, to me, that's a bit like cribbing in an exam and one never did that did one?
So, for once I'm writing about what I hear and not what the blurb tells me I'm hearing and, you know what? The blurb couldn't have done justice anyway to the music heard on this splendid double CD recorded live in St. Petersburg, Florida back in 2018.
Listening to this, just months after Chick Corea's death, brought it on home to me just what a great pianist he was and how comfortable he was in a conventional trio setting even though history will invariably associate him with Return to Forever - one of the most outstanding jazz-fusion bands.
Think of the great piano trios - Tatum, Peterson, Garner, Evans, Jarrett - Corea can go toe to toe with any of them. Standards or originals, he ticks all the boxes as the audience in Florida showed by their applause.
In Patitucci and Weckl he has two henchman at the top of their game. The bassist's arco intro to Eternal Child, the perfect prologue to the delicacy of Corea's entrance.
The beauty of his playing is not in the flamboyance which there is but, only sparingly. Like Bill Evans, content is more important than technique and Corea uses both to great effect. You and the Night and the Music is practically rewritten without the tune losing its identity. Weckl has a workout and there's more arco from Patitucci. Mrs Corea exercises her vocal chords on You're Everything. The lady has an amazing range and the crowd seemed to like her.
I could listen to this forever and never Return to Forever. This, of course, isn't true as they were both great bands but, if I had to make a choice, I wouldn't be flipping a coin ... Lance
(Disc one): Morning Sprite; Japanese Waltz; That Old Feeling; In a Sentimental Mood; Rhumba Flamenco; Summer Night; Humpty Dumpty (set one)
(Disc two): On Green Dolphin Street; Eternal Child; You and the Night and the Music; Monk's Mood; Humpty Dumpty (set two); You're Everything
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