Here, there a Chick, Where else a Chick Corea ?

Kjg, "Mad Hatter" album is available on CD but it's probably out of print. If you have a turntable why bother? The vinyl is much better sonically. Also I recommend to research on works with Gary Burton. Some of them made on Concord jazz which is an A+ label.

Don't forget the original 1972 ECM album "Return to Forever", which is far less fusion-oriented. RTF evolved into the band's name with increasing emphasis toward fusion. I was fortunate to see Corea, Clarke, White, Farrell and DeMiola when they did their RTF tour in the 70's and bought (and still have!!) the box set of the live recording. Corea also sits in with DeMeola on a few of Al's records from the late 70's and into the 80's.

Also check out "Crystal Silence"- primarily a duet between Burton and Corea. Corea gets closer to his roots again a little later with "Akoustic Band".

Virtually all of Corea's stuff is wonderfully inventive and creative.

Jim

Thanks for the suggestions. Scott can ALWAYS be counted on for good choices and I will explore those of others, too.

Speaking of Gary Burton, I found his album "Throb" at a garage sale and it, too, is excellent. I understand it is hard to find, though.

From the Chick Corea website:

The tour you've been waiting for is finally coming to a town near you!

Chick reunites with John Patitucci (bass), Dave Weckl (drums), Eric Marienthal (sax), and Frank Gambale (guitar) for the first time in 10 years to present both original CCEB repertoire as well as new compositions Chick created for the later version of the band and now rendered by the original fab five genius musicians (Jimmy Earl joins on bass after October 19th).

Chick, John, Dave, Eric, Frank and Jimmy are pumped and totally excited about playing to their audiences once again. Since the group's creative beginnings each member of the band has gone on to win more and more musical territory with all of them now bringing their collective experience and creative energy back into focus around Chick's music and under his leadership. (The band's first onstage reunion at the Hollywood Bowl this August literally blew the roof off the place!)

But, hurry up -- tickets are selling REAL fast!

"CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND" REUNION TOUR

October 2002
12 - Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
13 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
16 - Chick & John Only - New York City - with Roy Haynes
at Lincoln Center
17 - Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
19 - Clearwater Jazz Festival, Clearwater, FL
22 - Eleven 50 Theater, Atlanta, GA
23 - Carefree Theater, West Palm Beach, FL
24 - House of Blues, Orlando, FL
26 - Blue Note Club, New York, NY
27 - Blue Note Club, New York, NY
29 - Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO

November 2002
1 - Catalina's, Hollywood, CA
2 - Catalina's, Hollywood, CA
3 - Catalina's, Hollywood, CA

Last night I decided to listen to a few albums that I had not played in a long time, and ironically, my first selection was "Light as a Feather" which is one of my favorite Chick Corea albums. I particularly like the title track. "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs" is an outstanding album, and I would also recommend (like Dave Bachmann) the album "An Evening with Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock." Herbie Hancock is also one of my favorite artists of all time, and this is a great performance by two sensational pianists.

If you want a sampling of Chick Corea's varied styles, then check out the Verve compilation entitled "Chick Corea The Seventies." It is a mix of acoustic and electric tracks, and it includes selections from 10 different albums (most of which have been previously mentioned above). He performs with Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Joe Farrell, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Steve Gadd, and others on this album.