CHICK COREA: RETURN TO FOREVER

Chick Corea, jazz pianist extraordinaire, formed Return to Forever as a foray into jazz rock fusion, much in the vein of earlier work by jazz trumpeter Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, a project on which Corea participated. With the addition of jazz/fusion bassist Stanley Clarke and Brazilian vocalist Flora Purim (both of whom themselves had highly successful careers), the result on this record is a highly accessible and listenable jazz rock fusion record. The overall stylings and sound are more consistent with a jazz medium. Virtuosic play by Corea and Clarke are highlights of the album. For progheads not put off by jazz, this recording represents a truly excellent and representative work of the best of jazz fusion in the early 1970s. Corea was a major force in this medium along with Joe Zawinul of Weather Report and John McLaughlin. Corea remains active and his jazz output remains highly acclaimed to this day. This is an outstanding but not essential record, but as to whether it can be viewed as such by folks whose tastes don't include jazz is quite debatable. For this reviewer, this is a four star recording.