Chick Corea

[Jazz Kat]

Okay, I saw them play a set from the 80's (?) on BET, and now Chick Corea is on mag rack rehearsing some really cool piece with the same bass player, John Patucci, (is that how you spell it?) On BET, he had Weckl on drums, who has a really wierd grip, the stick is so high up to his thumb in his left hand, but anyway, I think on the mag rack one, it's a different drummer. Maybe someone can clarify this one?

Anyway, I dig the Elektric band. You?

[marcello]

You know I happened to see that.

Chick at his worst, IMHO.

One of his better later bands had Bob Berg on tenor and Gary Novak on drums but the music on the BET show was a lot of electric fluff.

They used to play this:

Blues For Bela

[wesbed]

Wow. I'd much rather hear the Chick Corea who played with Blue Mitchell than the Chick Corea who played with the Elektric Band.

[Free For All]

If I had to pick one EB recording, it would probably be Eye of the Beholder, although I don't reach for it very often. I will admit to an occasional fondness for some of the RTF recordings since that was some music I grew up with.

JK, you seem to be in a fusion groove as of late, and that's cool, but you have to realize that if you come here to what is mostly *acoustic land* and ask for opinions, you're probably not gonna hear what you wanna hear.

If it's something you enjoy, that's all that matters.........

.......but don't spend too much time on it.

[gdogus]

Can't answer your specific question, JK. I never did like the Elektrik Band much, though. I listened to a couple of their recordings from the mid-eighties, which left me more than cold - I felt downright frozen. In my opinion, this was where Corea achieved the utter mediocrity of which he always seemed capable.

I do have a double disc live set by the Dave Weckl Band, however, and I like that in certain moods.

Edited May 30, 2005 by gdogus

[Jazz Kat]

JK, you seem to be in a fusion groove as of late, and that's cool, but you have to realize that if you come here to what is mostly *acoustic land* and ask for opinions, you're probably not gonna hear what you wanna hear.

If it's something you enjoy, that's all that matters.........

.......but don't spend too much time on it.

←

[/quote

You know it's wierd. About 2 years ago, all I liked was 50's and 60's bop. All straight ahead. I hated rock, hated this stupid thing called fusion... I mostly hated all jazz with a backbeat and with electric instruments. Just recently, I got into some 70's fusion, and now I just love everything! I wouldn't say I'm quite in a fusion phase, but I'm just diggin every kind of jazz, with a few exceptions; something which is fairly new to me.

Other than the fact, I just seemed to be dragged into the 80's and can't get out nor breathe when I see and hear the Elektric Band, I like it... I'd like it if it was modern though..

[7/4]

You know it's wierd. About 2 years ago, all I liked was 50's and 60's bop. All straight ahead. I hated rock, hated this stupid thing called fusion... I mostly hated all jazz with a backbeat and with electric instruments. Just recently, I got into some 70's fusion, and now I just love everything! I wouldn't say I'm quite in a fusion phase, but I'm just diggin every kind of jazz, with a few exceptions; something which is fairly new to me.

Other than the fact, I just seemed to be dragged into the 80's and can't get out nor breathe when I see and hear the Elektric Band, I like it... I'd like it if it was modern though..

←

Have you tried any '70s fusion? Mahavishnu, Bill Bruford, Alan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck (Wired, There and Back)?

Edited May 30, 2005 by 7/4

[Jazz Kat]

Just Weather Report, which I didn't dig right away. Now Heavy Weather left me cold at first.

I know a lot of you don't like Chuck Mangione, but some of his real early 1970's stuff is definately worth checking out.

For instance, Alive.. 1972, Chuck Mangione Quartet with Gerry Niewood, Tony Levin, and Steve Gadd. Great playing. I got this when I was into Chuck.. Around age 8 or so.. But this album is terriffic. No Feels so Good... just good fusion... I guess.

Some other great ones are with his quartet on A&M, right before he sold out. Bellevia is pretty good. The album, with Niewood again, and Chip Jackson on bass, and Joe Labarbrea on drums opens and ends with some great music.

[7/4]

The bands I mentioned are much heavier than all that. They have a bit more rock, stomp and snarl to them.

Billy Cobham's Spectrum is another excelent one.

[Jazz Kat]

idk,

Have you heard the ones I mentioned? Again, they're not pop like his later (edit*)albums..

Edited May 30, 2005 by Jazz Kat

[Jazz Kat]

How about some Jack D. What was his band... Compost...? Is that worth checking out?

[Guy Berger]

Wow. I'd much rather hear the Chick Corea who played with Blue Mitchell than the Chick Corea who played with the Elektric Band.

←

And I'd much rather hear the Chick Corea who played with Miles Davis than either of those...

Guy

[marcoliv]

i just like one theme from EB: Gotta Match

Marcus

[Guest akanalog]

compost is cool. jack D doesnt always play drums if i remember because bob moses is in the group sometimes.

if heavy weather is your gauge then you haven't really explored weather report. i think most everyone in "the know" thinks that album sucks and works around it.

[king ubu]

Try some (or all) of these:

And if you want something a bit more on the light and playful side, try this one:

These are all from the days when there was a freshness to this kind of music, and when explorative minds were at work. Before it all freezed down and turned into a means to show chops and technique...

[sidewinder]

I have this on video from an old TV broadcast and it leaves me cold. Typical of the 1980s - along with the things put out by Windham Hill.

[Alon Marcus]

I really like Chick's electric projects. Just enjoy the music. I like the diversity of his musical career and would hate preventing myself from listening to "Electric Band" albums.

Jazz Kat - since you are in a fusion mood lately maybe you'll find some interest in the next names (maybe you have already explored some of them but it still worth mentioning).

Mike Mainieri and Steps Ahead - one of the best fusion band that included people like Mike Stern and Michael Brecker. Their music surely cannot be qualified as an easy listening or smooth.

The Brecker Brothers - lots of pop elements in their albums but also lots of great solos from Randy and Mike and other players that worked with the band.

Yellowjackets - since Bob Mintzer entered the band they are tending more towards the hardcore jazz fan but use electric instruments.

Scott Henderson and Tribal Tech create truly sophisticated and spirited jazz rock compositions.

Allan Holdsworth - you should try and listen to this unique guitar player and composer.

One thing that is in common to all the bands in this list is their ability of creating unusual songs with structures that deviate from the standart AABA form. Mostly the arrangments are also very interesting.

Enjoy

[Guy Berger]

Try some (or all) of these:

....

These are all from the days when there was a freshness to this kind of music, and when explorative minds were at work. Before it all freezed down and turned into a means to show chops and technique...

←

Very nice suggestions. I think the first few Weather Report albums (Weather Report, Live in Tokyo, I Sing the Body Electric, Sweetnighter, Mysterious Traveller) are also essential, as are various Miles Davis recordings from 1969-1975. Some of the best jazz recorded during this period.

Guy

[Guest akanalog]

try jean luc ponty's "enigmatic ocean". it has holdsworth on it and also-steve smith on drums!

also larry coryell's "introducing the eleventh house" with al mouzon on drums.

[marcoliv]

Ubu, you've mentioned on of my favorite discs: Return To Forever

Marcus

[chris olivarez]

What King Ubu said!!!!

[Jazz Kat]

I just bought Hym of the Seventh Galaxy by Return to Forever. I was kind of turned off. It was very heavy, but I knew the song Senor Mouse from a Herb Alpert record in 1975, so i bought it, and that tune was very nice. Today, I bought Light As a Feather. Awesome! This recording of Spain is absolutely tremendous! The vocals, Joe Farrell... the whole thing is great!

Edited February 23, 2006 by Jazz Kat

[Guest akanalog]

hymn is a good one. i always thought it weird, though, that the best song IMO (after the cosmic rain), was the one not written by corea.

you should check out the ECM debut of return to forever if you like light as a feather. i think it is a touch more interesting. a little less overtly commercial (with one overtly commercial tune, though).

[randissimo]

Try some (or all) of these:

And if you want something a bit more on the light and playful side, try this one:

These are all from the days when there was a freshness to this kind of music, and when explorative minds were at work. Before it all freezed down and turned into a means to show chops and technique...

Right on your royalness.. Those are some of my all time favs!

[johnagrandy]

I still end up buying and listening to a lot of 70s 80s fusion. But I realized it's a relative waste of my time and money. The ratio of crappy "feel good" music in that period is extreme.

Yeah , the early days were great: Head Hunters, Mahavishnu, Lifetime, every legit and bootleg electric session Miles ever put together ... Miles in that timeframe was scary. Seriously, that music scares the shit out of me. And that's a good thing.

Today, there is so much fascinating plugged-in improv (the best tends towards a mix of electric & acoustic instruments) that it almost demotes Weather Report, Corea, Brecker Brothers, Ponty, whomever, to the minor leagues. A lot of what WR did was pretentious.

I was at so many of those shows, but you have to come to terms with not letting nostalgia guide your tastes.

It's a relative waste of time & money chasing down those old fusion albums when you have this astounding modern alternative electric scene ... like Scott Amendola's "Believe".

You can actually hear almost 1/2 of that one for free:

http://jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/..._mp3s/index.cfm

"Oladipo" 's mind blowing guitar improvs courtesy of Nels Cline & Jeff Parker :

http://jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/...ew.cfm?track=37

Other trax:

http://jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/...ew.cfm?track=36

http://jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/...ew.cfm?track=38

http://jazztimes.com/columns_and_features/...ew.cfm?track=39