CHICK COREA: RETURN TO FOREVER

I give this one five stars mainly because I enjoy it so much! But of course, it is essential because lots of prog heads (like me a couple of years ago) are just looking for high speed,technical stuff with time signatures like 9/16 and more of the sort. And this album shows that that's not what music's about! I mean, of course you need to have some technique and knowledge to play what this guys play. Another reason why I think this album and the next (Light as a Feather) are such essential listens is because they show the true side of Chick Corea's music. He's been always into Latin Jazz and the first two return to forever albums show that exactly. Later they entered the fast/insane jazz fusion market where bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and Brand X offered their shares. So you see, before that, Return to Forever had a unique sound! No one played that Latin Jazz fusion that Chick Corea probably "invented". And last, but not least, the album totally kicks ass!!! I mean, the first track, "Return to Forever" is a masterpiece, it gives me chills everytime Airto's drums enter the scene on the first part. The second part is more like a jamming with a killer solo by chick Corea. The next two tracks are cool too, "What Game Shall We Play Today" shows the brazilian influences on the band. But the monster track: "Sometime Ago/La Fiesta" man...everyone plays amazingly beautiful in this song/jam! I've heard Stanley Clarke before, but I never thought he could play the double bass like that, it's insane!!! On the next album I don't like Flora Plurim much, but the few appearences she makes here are pretty good. Joe Farrell also plays some great sax especially on "La Fiesta". Overall you MUST check this one out so you see that jazz fusion is not just about high speed technical stuff.