LIGHT AS A FEATHER

Light As A Feather is the second studio album recorded by the fusion band Return to Forever, led by the keyboardist Chick Corea. This album is considered a classic in the world of jazz, but I am not so sure it is a masterpiece.

There is no doubt that Chick Corea delivers one of the most impressive performances on a rhoads piano on this album, and all of the members are on the top of their game. Stanley Clarke utilizes an acoustic bass throughout the whole album, and anyone who's familiar with his work should know what it makes for. The album is pretty much all improvisation and always gets me in a mood to pick up my bass and start jamming along. I think that is probably the pivotal aspect in jazz. The ability assimilate the listener into the movement and rhythms. This album surely does that. I can sit down, pop this CD in, and feel at one with the music as if I am the one playing the instruments in a small, dimmed room. It's one of those albums that just has the perfect chill mood.

So, this album may greatly appeal to classic jazz and fusion fans, however prog and rock fans might find a few faults with it. One of my greatest bothers are the vocals. I don't know what Corea was thinking, incorporating that horrible female vocalist onto this album, but it was surely a mistake. As soon as "You're Everything" starts up I always cringe at the sound of her voice. It's very raspy and monotonous and doesn't contribute anything to the musical value of the album. It often overpowers the performances by the rest of the band, which are the true power of the CD.

This album also lacks variety. It stays in virtually the same mood throughout the whole duration and doesn't progress into much else. What we get is good, relaxing, rhoads and flute focused jazz and nothing else. So, those looking for an album that ventures off into uncharted territories with a lot of variation, this will be a disappointment. On the other hand if you are a fan of the rhoads piano you will worship this album.

So for a fan of mellow jazz and fusion this is an excellent addition to your collection, but for me this is just a good album and not much else.

My rating: 7/10

Share this RETURN TO FOREVER review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Fight Club
• Report this review (#144565)
• Buy RETURN TO FOREVER music online with PA partners
• Show all RETURN TO FOREVER MP3/Stream
• Go to RETURN TO FOREVER page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Light as a Feather page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for RETURN TO FOREVER related discussions