If you’re not too sure who Corea is, he is one of the most influencial jazz pianists ever and along with Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner and Joe Zawinul he set the standard. A winner of twelve Grammy Awards over the past 40 years, he also led seminal fusion band Return To Forever and his own electric and acoustic bands.

Apart from appearing on the classic Miles Davis albums, you’ll also see him appearing on all sorts from Anthony Braxton, Airto, Stanley Clark and Cal Tjader to name just a few. However, for me, it was finding his ‘Spain’ on Light As A Feather that introduced me to Latin jazz. He was truly the matador of the keyboard (and if there was any doubt of that, see the cover to My Spanish Heart). On that album, he put Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson combined to shame playing acoustic pianos, Fender Rhodes, Mini-moog synthesizer, Moog 15, Arp Odessy, Polymoog and Yamaha organ.

Well that was a long time ago and this new DVD brings us up to date with a live performance of music from last years’ The Ultimate Adventure album. The original CD featured many of his jazz mates including friend of FLY, Tim Garland.

The DVD is Chick with his latest band, Touchstone but the first thing that strikes you is what a beautiful place the concert hall is. Barcelona’s Palau de la Musica is the venue for this live concert of The Ultimate Adventure which, we are told, connects jazz and flamenco with influences of North African and Middle Eastern and featuring some of Spain’s finest dancers.

‘Three Ghouls’ is an impro-jazz fusion piece with classical leanings while ‘Queen Tedmur’ is a slow piece that’s notable for the Jorge Pardo’s flute solo.

So where was the hundred miles an hour flamenco? When we get to ‘King & Queen’ it was about time to get going and they responded when the first dancer of the night appeared on stage, the “very nice” Auxi Fernandez. But then it’s back to the mellow ‘City Of Brass’ (even with Hossam Roamsy on Egyptian talba).

Looking at the booklet, the answer might be that The Ultimate Adventure is a collection of ‘tone poems’ inspired by Chick’s favourite author L. Ron Hubbard.

After an hour and a half in, the thumb piano intro to ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ lifts the spirits before we hear the familiar introduction to ‘Spain’. And this is where you get your money’s worth with a (at times) stonkin’ encore version as Auxi ups the temperature as she does her thing. And Hossam is back for this finale that made the wait worthwhile.

The ‘extras’ include a making of the DVD, an interview with Chick and a promo film for the original CD with his heavyweight jazz pals like Steve Gadd, Hubert Laws and Airto.

Chick is such an effortless performer and it’s good to see him on such good form with a band that can “talk” to each other with the music.

Touchstone Band:
Chick Corea (keyboards, piano, percussion)
Tom Brechtlein (drums)
Ruben Dantas (percussion, kalimba, palmas)
Jorge Pardo (flutes, saxs)
Carlos Benavent (bass)

Hectic mix nominations: ‘Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain’

Reviewed: Chick Corea - The Ultimate Adventure: Live In Barcelona (Universal) DVD’ Release Date: 21st May 2007 Cat. No: 727 0269 Filmed at the historic Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Spain. Filmed in High Definition Digital Video and recorded in 5.1 surround sound. Directed by Xavier Gorriga
Tracklisting:
1. North Africa
2. Moseb The Executioner
3. Queen Tedmur
4, Three Ghouls
5. King & Queen
6. City Of Brass
7. Planes Of Existence
8. Kalimba
9. Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain

Links:
www.chickcorea.com
Anthony Braxton - Impressions - “I’ll give a penny for that one” C.Corea
“Man, my search fro AB didn’t get me anything, and now this! He must been awfully young on this shoot. Was that Mr. Corera at the beginning? I don’t care bout the critics, this is hot. tnks 4 posting”. gcruptbside = (2 months ago)
The Ultimate Adventure [UNABRIDGED] (Hardcover) by L. Ron Hubbard
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