By Cornbread

RETURN TO FOREVER: RETURNS
Eagle Rock Entertainment – March 17, 2009

This 2-CD is a live that set brings together Return To Forever that was originally formed in 1972 as a Jazz Fusion / Rock mega-group. It’s been thirty-two years since the release of their last album Romantic Warrior. Reunited are keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al Di Meola, and drummer Lenny White.

Disc 1:
1.) Opening Prayer
2.) Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy
3.) Vulcan Worlds
4.) Sorceress
5.) Song To The Pharaoh Kings
6.) Al’s Solo, including
Children’s Song #3 – duet with Chick Corea
Passion Grace & Fire
Mediterranean Sundance
Café 1930
Spain – duet with Chick Corea
7.) No Mystery

Disc 2:
1.) Friendship – Chick’s Solo, including Solar
2.) Romantic Warrior
3.) El Bayo de Negro – Stanley’s Solo
4.) Lineage – Lenny’s Solo
5.) Romantic Warrior (continued)
6.) Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant
7.) 500 Miles High (Bonus Track)
8.) BBC Lifetime Achievement award to Return To Forever presented by Sir George Martin, including a performance of Romantic Warrior (Bonus Track)

Conclusion:
While I’m not a jazz aficionado I love good music and this is about as good as it gets. It serves well chilled as upbeat background music. I found myself thinking about the different parts and either thinking WOW or how’d they do that? Each musician on their own right are masters, as a group combined they are outstanding, I’d go as far as call it a masterpiece! If you like amazing keyboard playing (Chick was Miles Davis piano player) and bass (in a Jaco-like Weather Report mystique) you’ll like this.

Peace and Love
Peter ‘Cornbread’ Cohen, CBP