HERBIE HANCOCK | CHICK COREA — An Evening with Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea In Concert (1978-1998) RM | Serie Columbia Jazz | 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Since Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock had by 1978 spent several years mostly playing electric keyboards, their acoustic duet tour surprised many listeners who thought that they would always specialize in fusion. This double album contains many fine performances including lengthy versions of "Maiden Voyage" and "La Fiesta" but it is the striding by Corea and Hancock on "Liza" that is most unique. Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1 :
1    Someday My Prince Will Come    12:39
 Frank Churchill / Larry Morey
2    Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)    9:00
 George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Gus Kahn
3    Button Up    17:37
 Chick Corea / Herbie Hancock
Tracklist 2 :
1    Introduction Of Herbie Hancock By Chick Corea    0:41
2    February Moment    15:47
 Herbie Hancock
3    Maiden Voyage    13:31
 Herbie Hancock
4    La Fiesta    22:02
 Chick Corea
Credits :
Grand Piano – Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock

CHICK COREA — Plays (2020) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Chick Corea's piano work radiates a readily-discernible dignity and if that virtue does not actually belie the lighthearted tone of this title (or his unctuous between-song repartee), then it certainly sets out in much sharper relief the whimsy and serendipity that is also intrinsic to his well-schooled and practiced approach to the instrument. Accordingly—and hardly surprisingly—a composer of such renown as this man offers reverence for all the tunes he chooses, regardless of the source, and that attribute may be the overriding thread of continuity across these two CDs. Doug Collette   All Tracks & Credits :

ELVIN JONES — Merry Go Round (1972-2010) RM | Limited Edition | Serie Blue Note Best & More 1100 Encore – 178 | 24bits-192Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Inexcusably, there are no date or personnel listings on this LP from Blue Note's declining years, but the music is generally quite worthwhile, if a bit eclectic. The personnel changes throughout the session, despite all the performances being apparently recorded on the same day. The great drummer Elvin Jones is joined by the reeds of David Liebman, Steve Grossman and Joe Farrell; baritonist Pepper Adams is also on two numbers, keyboardists Chick Corea and Jan Hammer generally alternate (although they both appear on a few tunes together), guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo has guest appearances on two songs, and most selections include bassist Gene Perla and percussionist Don Alias. The group mostly plays concise versions of band originals, including Corea's classic "La Fiesta." An interesting set, but Elvin Jones has recorded many more rewarding albums. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    'Round Town 3:25
Composed By – Gene Perla
Soloist – David Liebman, Steve Grossman
2    Brite Piece 4:46
Composed By – David Liebman
Soloist – David Liebman, Jan Hammer
3    Lungs 2:22
Composed By – Jan Hammer
Soloist – Jan Hammer
4    A Time For Love 4:48
Composed By – Joe Farrell
Soloist – Chick Corea, Joe Farrell
5    Tergiversation 3:26
Composed By – Art Wiggens, Gene Perla
Soloist – Chick Corea, Jan Hammer
6    La Fiesta 6:05
Composed By – Chick Corea
Soloist – Chick Corea, Joe Farrell
7    The Children's Merry-Go-Round March 2:47
Composed By – Keiko Jones
Soloist – Elvin Jones
8    Who's Afraid... 4:21
Composed By – Frank Foster
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass [Fender] – Gene Perla
Alto Clarinet – Frank Foster (tracks: 8)
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams (tracks: 7)
Congas – Don Alias (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6)
Drums – Elvin Jones
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flute – Joe Farrell (tracks: 4, 7)
Guitar – Yoshiaki Masuo (tracks: 1, 4)
Piano, Electric Piano – Chick Corea (tracks: 4, 5, 6)
Piano, Electric Piano, Glockenspiel – Jan Hammer (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7)
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman (tracks: 1, 2, 6 to 8), Joe Farrell (tracks: 2, 6, 8)
Tenor Saxophone – Steve Grossman (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 7)

ELVIN JONES — Elvin Jones Live at the Town Hall : John Coltrane Memorial Concert (1975) Vinyl, LP | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Elvin Jones Live was taken from a John Coltrane Memorial Concert performed at New York's Town Hall, Sept. 12, 1971, and featured his group at that time, Frank Foster on soprano and tenor saxes, Chick Corea's piano, Joe Farrell's sax and flute and Gene Perla's bass on two extended compositions...This was five strong individual artists giving exceptionally of themselves, bringing forth a record where the dynamics of the whole were equal to the sum of the parts, making for an exceptional and truly beautiful record. Bob Rusch
Tracklist :
A    Shinjitu 22:00
Composed By – Keiko Jones
B    Simone 23:53
Composed By – Frank Foster
Credits :
Bass – Gene Perla
Drums – Elvin Jones
Piano – Chick Corea
Producer – Gene Perla
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Joe Farrell
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Frank Foster

JOHN McLAUGHLIN • CHICK COREA — Five Peace Band Live (2009) 2CD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin share one of the great pedigrees in the music of the 20th century: they were both key sidemen on Miles Davis' seminal albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. They have played together since those heady days, as a duo or as sit-in guests. Five Peace Band was Corea's idea of putting together a dream band to play all kinds of jazz, and he approached McLaughlin. Corea chose the other members in saxophonist Kenny Garrett, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and bassist Christian McBride. The group toured for nearly a year following Corea's Return to Forever reunion tour, and this double CD was compiled from that jaunt. It's true that on paper supergroups are suspicious offerings. Not so here. This band includes three younger -- yet veteran -- musicians who team wonderfully with the two legends on this set. Of the eight pieces included here, five are originals -- three by McLaughlin and a pair by Corea -- along with Davis' "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" (with Herbie Hancock guesting), Jackie McLean's "Dr. Jackle," and a reading of the standard "Someday My Prince Will Come" (a duet between pianist and guitarist that elegantly closes disc two). McLaughlin's compositions are fairly recent; they were recorded with his 4th Dimension group on his excellent Floating Point and Industrial Zen albums. As one can imagine, this material is played here the way it was there -- only more so -- as extremely engaging 21st century electric fusion. His other piece, "Señor C.S.," is reimagined from the studio version on Industrial Zen. Here it is played harder and faster yet gives away none of its Latin groove, and instead comes off as a new, much more technically ambitious mutation of samba.

It should be noted that the rhythm section here is nothing less than startling. McBride is equally at home on an electric bass, and his sense of fire, funkiness, and dynamic range is in every note. Colaiuta is simply one of the most talented and exciting drummers out there, and creates an art form of dressing his timekeeping in impeccable and imaginative ways. Corea's tunes are closer to something resembling mainstream jazz -- though the gorgeous and lengthy (it clocks in at over 27 minutes) "Hymn to Andromeda" moves gradually and beautifully to the outside, with beautiful playing by Garrett and McLaughlin, who can still handle non-fusion material with invention, restraint, and taste. Disc two begins with an odd, idiosyncratic reading of McLean's "Dr. Jackle" as an attempt to stretch hard bop toward something (via Corea's arrangement) -- but what it is, isn't quite clear. The version of "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" with Hancock is the album's high point. He plays an electric piano and creates the necessary incantatory vibe in the ethereal, soft, speculative beginning for Corea to simply caress into being. McLaughlin just floats about as an accompanist to the keys, and when he does play single lines, they become hesitant, soft, direction-pointing exercises toward what is to come. When the tune splits and becomes more aggressive in the latter half, the band gels and he finds himself in the maelstrom as the two keyboardists vie for dominance and the rhythm section creates a sense of pulse and excitement. His solo is brief and to the point yet full of knots and turns -- his trading lines with Garrett is especially tantalizing. Five Peace Band re-creates an extremely ambitious and beautifully executed gig, where all players were firing on all cylinders.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist 1 :
1. Raju (John McLaughlin) – 12:29
2. The Disguise (Chick Corea) – 13:32
3. New Blues, Old Bruise (John McLaughlin) – 14:06
4. Hymn to Andromeda (Chick Corea) – 27:45
Tracklist 2 :
1. Dr. Jackle (Jackie McLean) – 22:53
2. Senor C.S. (John McLaughlin) – 20:15
3. In a Silent Way / It's About That Time (Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul) – 20:06
4. Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank Churchill, Larry Morey) – 7:42
Personnel :
Chick Corea - Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer
Kenny Garrett - Alto Saxophone
John McLaughlin - Electric Guitar
Christian McBride - Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums, Percussion

S.M.V. —CLARKE | MILLER | WOOTEN— Thunder (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Get the subwoofers primed for this one. Three of jazz fusion's finest and most respected bassists -- Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten -- join forces for an hourlong frolic in the studio that's a fun, frisky, funky romp for the players and a potent showcase for an instrument often relegated to support status. Not here. On paper, it would seem unwieldy for three bass players, especially with the proficiency of this trio, to navigate their parts in the same song without the sound getting hopelessly cluttered. But it takes less than a minute into the opening track, which unexpectedly kicks off with full orchestration, for the concept to prove viable. One bass works the traditional low riff while the other two solo in harmony and trade licks with such ease and finesse that you wonder why someone didn't think of this collaboration earlier. Actually, someone did. Wooten came up with the idea but it took until the group worked together at the October 2006 Bass Player Live! event in N.Y.C. (where Clarke won the Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Award) for it to be discussed as a reality with the other two. Clarke was no stranger to playing with his fellow bottom dwellers, as he proved on his Night School DVD where he joined with about ten other bassists for an extended version of "School Days." Still, it's amazing how well these guys navigate their strummed, plucked, and thumped parts around each other without clashing. Horns, drums, loops, and keyboards (from guests Chick Corea and George Duke as well as Miller) flesh out the upper registers while Miller's clean, unfussy production also keeps things in order. Acoustic bowed bass and strings on "Milano" shift the sound away from the more rhythmic approach naturally favored on the majority of the tracks. The three amigos take on a Spanish spaghetti Western feel for "Los Tres Hermanos," a refreshing changeup that features some of the disc's most nimble playing and its prettiest melody. Some tunes will be familiar to jazz fans. "Tutu" was written by Miller for Miles Davis and Clarke's "Quiet Afternoon" gets referenced, as does his "Silly Putty," but these versions are quite different than the originals. All three musicians weave their lines together on the lovely ballad "Lil' Victa," with Clarke's high end sounding enough like a guitar to hold down the strong melodic line. The closing "Grits" is a hot slab of funky jazz that gives each a chance to solo over a sparse beat. Although their styles are relatively distinct, it would have been helpful if the liner notes described who was playing which part, especially for newcomers. Otherwise, this will thrill fusion fans -- and for bassists it's nothing less than a master class on the instrument from a handful of its most accomplished, eclectic, and veteran practitioners. Hal Horowitz
Tracklist :
1    Maestros De Las Frecuencias Bajas 2:52
Bass – SMV
Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Marcus Miller
Drums – Ronald Bruner Jr.
Keyboards – Ruslan Sirota
Synthesizer – Ariel Mann
Trombone – Steve Baxter
Trumpet – Patches Stewart
Written-By, Arranged By – Stanley Clarke
2    Thunder 6:37
Bass – SMV
Vocals, Voice [Voice Trumpet], Human Beatbox – Butterscotch
Written-By, Synthesizer, Programmed By – Marcus Miller
3    Hillbillies On A Quiet Afternoon 6:11
Bass – SMV
Clavinet – George Duke
Drums – Derico Watson
Synthesizer – Marcus Miller
Written-By – Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten
4    Mongoose Walk 5:57
Bass – SMV
Drums – Derico Watson
Percussion – Kevin Ricard
Piano – Chick Corea
Written-By – Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten
Written-By, Synthesizer, Keyboards – Marcus Miller
5    Los Tres Hermanos 5:25
Bass – SMV
Drums – Poogie Bell
Percussion – Kevin Ricard
Written-By, Synthesizer – Marcus Miller
6    Lopsy Lu - Silly Putty 6:12
Arranged By – Victor Wooten
Arranged By, Synthesizer, Programmed By – Marcus Miller
Bass – SMV
Drums – Poogie Bell
Keyboards – George Duke
Trombone – Steve Baxter
Trumpet – Patches Stewart
Written-By – Stanley Clarke
7    Milano 4:21
Bass – Victor Wooten
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Stanley Clarke
Percussion – Kevin Ricard
Written-By, Bass, Synthesizer – Marcus Miller
8    Classical Thump 4:50
Arranged By, Bass – Marcus Miller
Written-By, Arranged By, Bass – Victor Wooten
9    Tutu 5:04
Arranged By, Bass – Victor Wooten
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Stanley Clarke
Drums – J.D. Blair
Keyboards – Karlton Taylor
Vocals – Butterscotch
Written-By, Arranged By, Bass, Bass Clarinet, Synthesizer, Programmed By – Marcus Miller
10    Lil' Victa 4:10
Bass – SMV
Drums – Ronald Bruner Jr.
Written-By – Stanley Clarke
11    Pendulum 4:15
Bass – SMV
Human Beatbox – Butterscotch
Written-By – Antoinette Clinton, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten
Written-By, Synthesizer – Marcus Miller
12    "Lemme Try Your Bass" 0:57
Written-By, Bass – Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke
13    Grits 5:24
Bass – SMV
Drums – Ronald Bruner Jr.
Written-By, Synthesizer – Marcus Miller

GARY BURTON | CHICK COREA — Crystal Silence (1973) APE (image+.cue), lossless

For Crystal Silence, the first of several partnerships between Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton in the 1970s, the two musicians selected an interesting array of material. The compositions on this record are all modern ones, either by Steve Swallow, Mike Gibbs, or Corea himself. It is a mostly downtempo affair, which allows each player to stretch out and play highly melodic solos over the often difficult changes. In keeping with most ECM releases, there is a distinct presence of European elements to the improvisations. There are few overt blues or bebop phrases, Corea and Burton opting instead for modern melodies to fuel their improvisations. Burton has managed to internalize the Spanish and modal implications of Corea's tunes with little difficulty, and solos with joyful ease through such tracks as "Señor Mouse." Corea himself is absolutely burning. His solo contribution on the same track is both fiery and introspective, combining in one statement the poles for which he is best-known. The title track is also the centerpiece of the album, a nine-minute exploration of the Corea ballad that first appeared on his Return to Forever record in 1972. In keeping with the tradition of the great masters of the ballad form, time seems to disappear as Burton and Corea lovingly caress the song's simple melody and dance effortlessly around the chords, building intensity only to let it subside once more. Crystal Silence is a sublime indication of what two master improvisers can do given quality raw material, with the first side of this record being particularly flawless. Improvised music is rarely this coherent and melodic. Essential for fans of Corea, Burton, or jazz in general. Daniel Gioffre
Tracklist :
1. Señor Mouse (Chick Corea) - 6:20
2. Arise, Her Eyes (Steve Swallow) - 5:08
3. I'm Your Pal (Steve Swallow) - 4:02
4. Desert Air (Chick Corea) - 6:26
5. Crystal Silence (Chick Corea) - 9:05
6. Falling Grace (Steve Swallow) - 2:42
7. Feelings And Things (Mike Gibbs) - 4:46
8. Children's Song (Chick Corea) - 2:11
9. What Game Shall We Play Today (Chick Corea) - 3:46
Chick Corea – Piano
Gary Burton – Vibraphone  

GABOR SZABO — Femme Fatale (1978-1999) RM | Serie A Magyar Popsztori | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released in 1981 on a small Hungarian label, this 1978 session recorded in Hollywood is the guitarist's final record. "Out of the Night" interestingly pairs him with pianist Chick Corea. But the remainder of the record is a standard late-'70s fusion date without Corea, highlighted by the Return to Forever intrigue of "A Thousand Times." Douglas Payne
Tracklist
1. Femme Fatale 8:18 (Gabor Szabo)
2. Zingaro (A. C. Jobim) 7:08
3. Serena (James Harrah) 3:38
4. A Thousand Times (Gabor Szabo) 9:13
5. Out Of The Night (Gabor Szabo) 8:06
Credits
Gábor Szabó - guitar
Chick Corea - piano (track 5)
Leon Bisquera - keyboards
James Harrah - guitar
Abraham Laboriel - bass
David Roney - electric bass
Hugh Moran - drums
Everette Bryson - percussion
Gary Grant, Jerry Hey - trumpet, flugelhorn
William Reichenbach - trombone
Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams - reeds
Lawrence Sonderling, Bobby Dubow, Ken Yerke, John Wittenberg,
Sheldon Sanov, Carol Shive - violin
Pamela Goldsmith, Arthur Royval, Michael Nowak - viola
Ronald Cooper, Ray Kelley - cello
David Campbell - arranger, conductor

CIRCLE - Paris-Concert (1971-1990) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Of all of the recordings from the short-lived avant-garde quartet Circle, this double-LP is the most rewarding. Cut live in Paris, this set features pianist Chick Corea, the reeds of Anthony Braxton, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Barry Altschul playing a wide variety of fairly free explorations. Highlights include their reinterpretation of the standard "There Is No Greater Love," the playful "Toy Room - Q & A," Braxton's "73 Degrees Kelvin," and "Nefertiti." The music is often quite abstract but generally colorful and innovative; Chick Corea would soon break up the band for other musical adventures, but this set remains one of the high points of his productive career. Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1.1     Nefertitti 19:16
Wayne Shorter
1.2     Song For The Newborn 6:50
Dave Holland     
1.3     Duet 10:40
Anthony Braxton / Chick Corea
1.4     Lookout Farm/Kelvin 73° [Variation 3] 16:07
Barry Altschul / Anthony Braxton   
2.1     Toy Room/Q & A 24:43
Dave Holland
2.2     No Greater Love 17:38
Isham Jones / Marty Symes    
Credits :
Bass, Cello – David Holland
Percussion – Barry Altschul
Piano – Chick Corea
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Reeds, Percussion – Anthony Braxton

ANTHONY BRAXTON - The Complete Braxton (1973-1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This two-LP set features the innovative multireedist in a variety of settings. Recorded while he was a member of the group Circle, Braxton is heard in two duets with pianist Chick Corea, three fairly exciting quartet tracks with trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Barry Altschul, an unaccompanied solo on contrabass clarinet, a piece (which Braxton wrote but does not play on) for five tubas, and a selection in which he overdubbed four sopranino saxes. Lots of very interesting performances come from a master of the avant-garde who has always followed his own musical path. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Up Thing [N 508-10 (4G)] 4:35
Piano – Chick Corea
Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
2    Quartet Ballad [J-572 (431)] 16:35
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
3    March [67M F-12] 5:15
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
4    Four Sopranos [ZM-F-K] 15:00
Soprano Saxophone [Four Parts Overdubbed] – Anthony Braxton
5    Be Bop [R76-4] 9:47
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass, Cello – Dave Holland
Percussion, Bells – Barry Altschul
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
6    Five Tubas [3-24 (Tuba Realization)] 8:01
Ensemble – The London Tuba Ensemble
Tuba [C] – Paul Lawrence (2)
Tuba [E Flat] – Geoffrey Adams (2), James Anderson (6), John Fletcher (2), Michael Barnes (4)
7    Soprano Ballad [JNK 4 Degrees] 14:32
Piano – Chick Corea
Soprano Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
8    Contra Basse [4-16 CJF] 6:18
Contrabass Clarinet [Contrebasse] – Anthony Braxton

STAN GETZ - Sweet Rain (1967-2003) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of Stan Getz's all-time greatest albums, Sweet Rain was his first major artistic coup after he closed the book on his bossa nova period, featuring an adventurous young group that pushed him to new heights in his solo statements. Pianist Chick Corea, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Grady Tate were all schooled in '60s concepts of rhythm-section freedom, and their continually stimulating interplay helps open things up for Getz to embark on some long, soulful explorations (four of the five tracks are over seven minutes). The neat trick of Sweet Rain is that the advanced rhythm section work remains balanced with Getz's customary loveliness and lyricism. Indeed, Getz plays with a searching, aching passion throughout the date, which undoubtedly helped Mike Gibbs' title track become a standard after Getz's tender treatment here. Technical perfectionists will hear a few squeaks on the LP's second half (Getz's drug problems were reputedly affecting his articulation somewhat), but Getz was such a master of mood, tone, and pacing that his ideas and emotions are communicated far too clearly to nit-pick. Corea's spare, understated work leaves plenty of room for Getz's lines and the busily shifting rhythms of the bass and drums, heard to best effect in Corea's challenging opener "Litha." Aside from that and the title track, the repertoire features another Corea original ("Windows"), the typically lovely Jobim tune "O Grande Amor," and Dizzy Gillespie's Latin-flavored "Con Alma." The quartet's level of musicianship remains high on every selection, and the marvelously consistent atmosphere the album evokes places it among Getz's very best. A surefire classic. by Steve Huey
Tracklist :
1     Litha 9:00
Chick Corea
2     O Grande Amor 4:43
Antônio Carlos Jobim
3     Sweet Rain 7:08
Mike Gibbs
4     Con Alma 8:00
Dizzy Gillespie
5     Windows 8:52
Chick Corea
Credits :
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Grady Tate
Piano – Chick Corea
Tenor Saxophone – Stan Getz

AIRTO MOREIRA - Free (1972-2003) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

The 1970s were banner years for Airto Moreira -- not only because of his association with Chick Corea's Return to Forever and his work on wife Flora Purim's Milestone dates, but also, because of the generally superb work he did under Creed Taylor's supervision at CTI from 1972-74. One of the five-star gems that the Brazilian percussionist recorded for CTI was Fingers, which employs Purim on percussion and vocals, David Amaro on guitar, Hugo Fattoruso on keyboards and harmonica, Jorge Fattoruso on drums and Ringo Thielmann on electric bass. Produced by Taylor and recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's famous New Jersey studio, this LP demonstrates just how exciting and creative 1970s fusion could be. When Moreira and his colleagues blend jazz with Brazilian music, rock and funk on such cuts as "Wind Chant," "Tombo in 7/4" and "Romance of Death," the results are consistently enriching. Fingers is an album to savor. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1  Return to Forever - 10:17
(Chick Corea)
2 Flora's Song - 8:30
(Flora Purim)
3 Free - 11:50
(Airto Moreira)
4 Lucky Southern - 2:36
(Keith Jarrett)
5 Creek (Arroio) - 6:12
(Victor Brazil)
- Bonus Track -
6 So Tender - 5:01
(Keith Jarrett)
7 Jequié - 2:57
(Moacir Santos)
8 Creek (Arroio) (Altenate Version) - 9:23  
Personnel :
Airto - Percussion, Vocals
Hubert Laws - Flute
Joe Farrell - Soprano Saxophone, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Piccolo
Chick Corea - Piano, Electric Piano
Keith Jarrett - Piano
Nelson Ayres - Electric Piano
George Benson - Guitar
Jay Berliner - Guitar
Ron Carter - Bass
Stanley Clarke - Electric Bass
Flora Purim - vocals
Burt Collins, Mel Davis, Alan Rubin - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Wayne Andre, Garnett Brown, Joe Wallace - Trombone
Don Sebesky - Arranger

AIRTO MOREIRA AND THE GODS OF JAZZ - Killer Bees (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

In November of 1989, after ten years of California living, Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira felt the need to get back in touch with the free-music roots he established two decades earlier in New York City. A spate of slumberous L.A. studio sessions, in combination with a tired scene in his adoptive hometown of Santa Barbara, was beginning to take its toll on the creative percussionist. New York of the late 1960s bustled with musical vibrancy for Moreira. All night jam sessions with the likes of Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Jan Hammer, Stanley Clarke, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, and Walker Booker were the rule for the artist. On occasion, even such heavyweight legends as Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, Buster Williams, and Thelonious Monk would sit in. In an effort to shake off L.A. studio stupor and re-create the wonder days of impromptu dream team sessions, he invited long time jazz comrades Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Mark Egan, and Stanley Clarke to record improvised music with him in a local Santa Barbara studio. Jumping at the opportunity to play with their friends for the sake of playing, these musicians ended up producing the Killer Bees CD. Peppered with subtle overdubs by vocalist Flora Purim, saxophonist Gary Meek, and guitarist Hiram Bullock, Killer Bees is a set of nine tracks characterized by the sense of spontaneity and adventurousness that Airto intended to revisit. From the opening "Banana Jam," a track in which Moreira, Corea, and Egan experiment with sounds in an improvised section that eventually crescendos into a powerful bass and piano ostinato, to the concluding "Chicken on the Mind," a whimsical track that builds on the sounds of a barking dog and the cackles of Corea, this CD captures superb studio musicians playing out on a limb. If you are looking for the precise articulation of rigid song structures, then this CD may leave you feeling a bit unsatisfied. On the other hand, if you enjoy listening to evolving and amorphous forms full of mercurially virtuosic content, then Killer Bees will make you yearn for more projects that recreate Moreira's free-jazz jams of yore. by John Vallier  
Tracklist :
1     Banana Jam 6:03
Chick Corea / Mark Egan / Airto Moreira / Flora Purim
2     Be There 4:43
Stanley Clarke / Herbie Hancock / Airto Moreira
3     Killer Bees 7:36
Hiram Bullock / Chick Corea / Mark Egan / Airto Moreira
4     City Sushi Man 4:03
Hiram Bullock / Chick Corea / Mark Egan / Airto Moreira
5     See Ya Later 5:36
Chick Corea / Mark Egan / Airto Moreira
6     Never Mind 7:46
Stanley Clarke / Herbie Hancock / Airto Moreira
7     Communion 8:39
Stanley Clarke / Herbie Hancock / Airto Moreira
8     Nasty Moves 2:12
Hiram Bullock / Mark Egan / Airto Moreira
9     Chicken in the Mind 3:29
Chick Corea / Mark Egan / Airto Moreira
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Airto Moreira
Electric Bass, Fretless Bass – Mark Egan
Guitar – Hiram Bullock
Overdubbed By – Steve Hart
Piano, Keyboards – Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Gary Meek
Vocals, Producer – Flora Purim

MAYNARD FERGUSON - Primal Scream (1976-2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

An all-star cast assists Maynard Ferguson in this disco-tinged big-band outing. Ferguson's trademark trumpet playing is featured in all its screaming glory, and Mark Colby contributes a couple of high-energy sax solos. "Primal Scream" and "Invitation" sound as though they were lifted right off the mid-'70s disco dancefloor, complete with T.S.O.P.-type strings and pulsing rhythms. "Pagliacci," too, has the disco beat pounding underneath a Jay Chattaway adaptation of an operatic melody, with Bobby Militello featured on an energetic, overblown flute solo. Chick Corea's "The Cheshire Cat Walk" sounds like latter-day Return to Forever, as Corea's synth trades licks with Ferguson's horn over a familiar RTF rhythmic/chordal bassline sequence. The final cut, Eric Gale's "Swamp," stands out because of its reggae beat. This album was an obvious attempt to jump on the disco-funk bandwagon, and serves as a well-played, though dated, document of that era. by Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1     Primal Scream 7:09
Jay Chattaway / Maynard Ferguson
2     The Cheshire Cat Walk 10:09
Chick Corea
3     Invitation 5:32
Bronislaw Kaper
4     Pagliacci 5:55
Jay Chattaway / Ruggero Leoncavallo
5     Swamp 7:24
Eric Gale
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Dave Sanborn
Bass – Gary King
Bass Trombone – David Taylor, Paul Faulise
Cello – Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken
Drums – Steve Gadd
Flute, Baritone Saxophone – Bobby Militello
French Horn – Brooks Tillotson, Earl Chapin
Guitar – Eric Gale, Jeff Mirenov, Jerry Friedman
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Piano, Synthesizer [Arp], Clavinet – Bob James
Producer – Bob James
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Mark Colby
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Farrell
Trombone – Tony Studd
Trumpet – Marvin Stamm
Trumpet [All Solos] – Maynard Ferguson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bernie Glow, Jon Faddis, Stan Mark
Viola – Emanuel Vardi, Theodore Israel
Violin – Charles Libove, David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Frederick Buldivini, Harry Cykman, Joseph Malin, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman
Vocals – Hilda Harris, Lani Groves, Patti Austin 

THE BLUE MITCHELL QUINTET - Down with It! (1965-2005) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Down With It is a fairly standard bop and soul-jazz session from Blue Mitchell. Leading a quintet that features a young Chick Corea on piano, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Al Foster, Mitchell creates a laid-back atmosphere which makes R&B covers like "Hi-Heel Sneakers" or the lite bossa nova of "Samba De Stacy" roll along nicely. Just as often, the record is so relaxed that it fails to generate much spark, but each the soloists have fine moments that makes the session worthwhile for jazz purists. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Hi-Heel Sneakers 8:25
Robert Higginbotham   
2     Perception 5:42
Chick Corea / Blue Mitchell
3     Alone, Alone, And Alone 7:45
Terumasa Hino
4     March on Selma 6:16
Blue Mitchell
5     One Shirt 7:30
William Boone
6     Samba de Stacy 6:00
William Boone
Credits :
Bass – Gene Taylor
Drums – Al Foster
Piano – Chick Corea
Recorded By, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Junior Cook
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

ARTURO SANDOVAL - Flight to Freedom (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In July 1990, after playing trumpet in his native Cuba for 28 of his 41 years, Arturo Sandoval had the opportunity to defect from Cuba along with his family. A brilliant virtuoso, Sandoval finally was able to play whatever music he wanted without having to satisfy a dictator, and his potential was enormous. On his American debut, Sandoval mostly performs boppish jazz (other than the dull "Marianela") with slight touches of rock and spiced with Latin percussion. The trumpeter shows restraint on the ballads (including a tasty "Body and Soul") and displays plenty of fire on the often-funky uptempo romps, not overdoing the effortless high notes. With the assistance of the high-powered tenor of Ed Calle, the versatile guitarist Rene Luis Toledo, and a variety of talented sidemen (including guest Chick Corea on three songs), Arturo Sandoval's long overdue debut is well-rounded, exciting, and highlighted by a fast rendition of Dizzy Gillespie's "Tanga." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Flight To Freedom 3:50
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Dave Weckl
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Chick Corea
Saxophone – Ed Calle
Synthesizer – Danilo Perez
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
2    Last Time I Saw You 5:04
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Dave Weckl
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Chick Corea
Saxophone – Ed Calle
Synthesizer – Richard Eddy
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
3    Caribeno 5:59
Bass – Nicky Orta
Drums, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Orlando Hernandez
Electronic Wind Instrument [EWI], Tenor Saxophone, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Ed Calle
Guitar, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Rene Luis Toledo
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Mike Orta
Trumpet, Timbales, Cowbell, Lead Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
4    Samba De Amore 6:09
Bass – Nicky Orta
Drums – Orlando Hernandez
Flugelhorn – Arturo Sandoval
Flute – Ed Calle
Guitar – Rene Luis Toledo
Piano – Mike Orta
Strings – Alfred Brown, Elliot Rosoff, Eugene Moye, Gene Orloff, Harry Zaratzian, Jesse Levy, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Max Ellen, Sanford Allen
5    Psalm 7:47
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Dave Weckl
Flute – Ed Calle
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Chick Corea
Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
6    Rene's Song 5:08
Bass – Nicky Orta
Drums – Orlando Hernandez
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Arturo Sandoval
Guitar – Rene Luis Toledo
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Mike Orta
Saxophone – Ed Calle
7    Body And Soul6:43
Acoustic Guitar – Rene Luis Toledo
Bass – Nicky Orta
Drums – Dave Weckl
Flugelhorn – Arturo Sandoval
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Mike Orta
Strings – Alfred Brown, Elliot Rosoff, Eugene Moye, Gene Orloff, Harry Zaratzian, Jesse Levy, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Max Ellen, Sanford Allen
8    Tanga 5:53
Bass – Nicky Orta
Drums – Dave Weckl
Guitar – Rene Luis Toledo
Percussion – Long John
Piano – Mike Orta
Saxophone – Ed Calle
Trumpet, Synthesizer – Arturo Sandoval
9    Caprichosos De La Habana 5:08
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Rene Luis Toledo
Bass, Vocals – Nicky Orta
Drums, Vocals – Orlando Hernandez
Percussion – Long John, Portinho
Synthesizer, Vocals – Mike Orta
Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Ed Calle
Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Vocals – Joel Dorn, Julia Fuller, Pete King
10    Marianela 5:50
Bass – Nicky Orta
Drums – Dave Weckl
Electronic Wind Instrument [EWI] – Ed Calle
Strings – Alfred Brown, Elliot Rosoff, Eugene Moye, Gene Orloff, Harry Zaratzian, Jesse Levy, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Max Ellen, Sanford Allen
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Synthesizer – Arturo Sandoval

DAVID FRIESEN - Amber Skies (1984-1993) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of bassist David Friesen's better jazz sessions as a leader, this set (which has been reissued by other labels on CD) has some excellent playing by tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson on "Amber Skies" and "Underlying," a rare opportunity for flutist Paul Horn to take a solo in a straight-ahead setting ("Blue and Green"), and was the first opportunity that pianist Chick Corea and drummer Paul Motian had to work together; percussionist Airto completes the sextet. The diverse originals, all by Friesen, feature each of the players quite favorably, and the overall results are stimulating. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Amber Skies 7:55
David Friesen
2    Blue And Green 10:15
Bill Evans, Miles Davis
3    Underlying 5:51
David Friesen
4    Jenelle Number Four 4:37
David Friesen, Paul Patterson
5    In The Place Of Calling 7:49
David Friesen
6    Sitka In The Woods 6:09
 David Friesen
7    Voices 9:09
 David Friesen
Credits :
Bass – David Friesen
Drums – Paul Motian
Flute – Paul Horn
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Piano – Chick Corea
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson

MIROSLAV VITOUS - Universal Syncopations (2003) / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On his first jazz date as a leader since 1992, Czechoslovakian bassist and composer Miroslav Vitous comes out of the gate with a host of heavyweights on one of the more lyrically swinging dates in modern jazz. Vitous' engaged, pulsing, and deeply woody tone is featured in the company of John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, and Jack DeJohnette. While the crystalline sound of Manfred Eicher's ECM is everywhere here, as is the open-ended speculative jazz that the label is renowned -- and ridiculed for -- Vitous offers some startlingly beautiful twists and turns with his ensemble. Vitous, who has been through every music, from jazz-rock fusion as a founding member of Weather Report to being a classical composer, decided to revisit the skeletal remains of his very first session for the label in 1969. Produced by Herbie Mann the disc was, from a musical standpoint, a contentious, utterly brilliant marriage of ideas both old and new. Bandmembers DeJohnette and McLaughlin were present on those sides as well. Universal Syncopations is by turns a return to not the old forms, but rather to the manner of illustrating harmonic concepts in a quintet setting that allows for a maximum space between ensemble players while turning notions of swing, counterpoint, and rhythmic invention on their heads. From the wooly, expressionistic "Tramp Blues," with Vitous vamping around the changes, to the wide-open legato guitar phrasing of McLauglin against the double time in Vitous' bass on "Univoyage," to the simmering undulations of Garbarek's saxophones on top of Corea's intricate melodies and right-hand runs on "Brazilan Waves," all of it propelled, not anchored, by the leader's rich tone and accented and punctuated by Garbarek's tight, loping saxophone lines. This is one of those recordings that feels familiar in tone, but is timeless in concept and execution. Universal Syncopations is one of the most gorgeous sounding and toughly played dates of the calendar year.  by Thom Jurek
Tracklist:
1     Bamboo Forest        4:37
Miroslav Vitous
2     Univoyage    10:54
Miroslav Vitous
3    Tramp Blues    5:19
Miroslav Vitous
4    Faith Run    4:58
Miroslav Vitous
5    Sun Flower    7:21
Miroslav Vitous
6    Miro Bop    4:03
Miroslav Vitous
7    Beethoven    7:18
Jan Garbarek / Miroslav Vitous
8    Medium    5:09
Jan Garbarek / Miroslav Vitous
9    Brazil Waves    4:26
Jan Garbarek / Miroslav Vitous
Credits
     Double Bass, Written-By, Producer, Edited By, Mixed By – Miroslav Vitous
    Drums – Jack DeJohnette
    Guitar – John McLaughlin
    Piano – Chick Corea
    Producer, Edited By, Mixed By – Manfred Eicher
    Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
    Trombone – Isaac Smith (tracks: 2 to 4)
    Trumpet – Wayne Bergeron (tracks: 2 to 4)
    Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Valerie Ponomarev (tracks: 2 to 4)
    Written-By – Jack DeJohnette (tracks: 8), Jan Garbarek (tracks: 7, 9)

CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND - The Chick Corea Elektric Band (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Nine years after the breakup of the final version of Return to Forever, Chick Corea ended a long period of freelance projects by forming his Elektrik Band. This set, the group's initial release, finds Corea meeting up for the first time with the great bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl; half of the selections also have either Carlos Rios or Scott Henderson on guitar. Due to the high musicianship, the personalities of the players, and Corea's colorful compositions, the Elektrik Band quickly became one of the top fusion groups of the late '80s. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 City Gate 0:54
2 Rumble 4:04
Written-By – Chick Corea
3 Side Walk 3:48
Guitar – Carlos Rios 
Written-By – Chick Corea, Dave Weckl, John Patitucci
4 Cool Weasel Boogie 6:43
Guitar – Carlos Rios 
Written-By – Chick Corea
5 Got A Match? 5:38
Written-By – Chick Corea
6 Elektric City 4:07
Guitar – Carlos Rios 
Written-By – Chick Corea
7 No Zone 5:29
Written-By – Chick Corea
8 King Cockroach 6:56
Guitar – Scott Henderson 
Written-By – Chick Corea
9 India Town 5:06
Written-By – Chick Corea
10 All Love 5:45
Written-By – Chick Corea
11 Silver Temple 8:32
Guitar – Scott Henderson 
Written-By – Chick Corea
Credits:
Bass [Electric & Acoustic] – John Patitucci
Drums [Acoustic & Electronic], Percussion – Dave Weckl
Keyboards, Synthesizer, Producer – Chick Corea

CHICK COREA ELEkTRIC BAND - Light Years (1987) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The second recording by Chick Corea's Elektric Band was the first to feature altoist Eric Marienthal and guitarist Frank Gambale in addition to bassist John Patitucci, drummer Dave Weckl and the leader/keyboardist. Unlike most other fusion groups, these musicians displayed original musical personalitites and Corea's compositions tended to be memorable. This is one of The Elektric Band's better releases. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
 1 Light Years 3:54
Chick Corea / John Patitucci / Dave Weckl
2 Second Sight 4:24
Chick Corea
3 Flamingo 4:10
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
4 Prism 3:30
Chick Corea
5 Time Track 5:03
Chick Corea
6 Starlight 3:52
Chick Corea / John Patitucci
7 Your Eyes 3:56
Chick Corea
8 The Dragon 5:30
Chick Corea / John Patitucci
9 View from the Outside 6:30
Chick Corea
10 Smokescreen 4:13
Chick Corea
11 Hymn of the Heart 6:39
Chick Corea
12 Kaleidoscope 8:04
Chick Corea
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Eric Marienthal (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 8, 9)
Arranged By, Written-By – Chick Corea (tracks: 2 to 5, 6, 7, 9 to 12)
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass], Electric Bass – John Patitucci (tracks: 1 to 9, 11, 12)
Drums – Dave Weckl
Electric Guitar – Carlos Rios (tracks: 3, 7), Frank Gambale (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12)
Keyboards – Chick Corea
Mixed By – Bernie Kirsh, Chick Corea, Dave Weckl, Jay Oliver, John Patitucci