Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White – “Forever”
Concord Records
-out tomorrow
3.5 / 5
There’s just such a breezy way that Chick Corea dabbles on those ivories that, we’re certain, melts even the un-jazziest of hearts. And on this reunion album-slash-tour of his eternal Return to Forever band, it’s all there: drummer Lenny White, bass virtuoso Stanley Clarke (btw, check out his “School Days”), and some jazz/ RTF standards (plus a handful of new ones). Replete with guests (Jean-Luc Ponty, “Upon the Wings of Music” for one), this album can’t help but to measure itself again the catalog of 70s releases, and in that respect, “Forever” still meets the test. With a nimble band, light, delicate performances, there is little to complain about (though they forgot “Spain”! – can’t win them all) on this live, acoustic two-disc set. It is, in fact, an excellent primer to those unfortunate enough not to have been introduced to one of the premier fusion bands of all time; furthermore, we’re certain that you (the jazz-discerning part of our audience) will enjoy the precise, yet warm performances within. For neophytes or fans, we’re most certainly recommending it, and especially urging a look (yet again) into their classic albums.