Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy [TrackList follows] – Stretch Records/ Concord Jazz

by | Aug 20, 2014 | Jazz CD Reviews

Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy  [TrackList follows] – Stretch Records/ Concord Jazz CJA-35685092, TT: 204:54 *****:

(Chick Corea – Piano;  Christian McBride – Bass; Brian Blade – Drums; Guests: Jorge Pardo – Flute (Disc 1, Tracks 5, 7); Nino Josele – Acoustic Guitar (Disc 1, Tracks 5, 7); Gayle Moran Corea – Vocals (Disc 3, Track 3))

This well-recorded and lengthy album comes from the best takes selected from a trio tour of Japan in 2012 and one of Europe in 2012.  The specific locations include Washington D.C., Oakland, CA, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Turkey and Sapporo. The trio is a tightly-formed and experienced entity, having playing together now for some time, and Chick likes to go on about the contributions his drummer Brian Blade is making to the the group. The two trio members also had been the rhythm section in Corea’s Five Peace Band. The program includes new versions of a number of Corea classic Latin-ish tunes such as “Spain” and “Armando’s Rhumba,” some jazz standards (including two by Monk), his half-hour solo piano sonata The Moon, and a fascinating version of an etude by a 19th-century composer who fascinated Bill Evans and others in jazz: Alexander Scriabin. Corea’s wife and collaborator, Gayle Moran Corea, is heard on “Someday My Prince Will Come.”

I must admit I usually find piano trios rather blah unless they feature someone of the caliber of Keith Jarrett or Corea.  And at 70 Corea remains a master of great creativity, swing, and sophistication.  This is a most impressive album. There is also an expensive Japanese CD pressing of the set, plus some hi-res downloads, both of which would probably improve on the already excellent sonics of this advance set.

TrackList:

Disc: 1

1. You’re My Everything

2. Recorda Me

3. The Song Is You

4. Work

5. My Foolish Heart

6. Fingerprints

7. Spain

Disc: 2

1. This Is New

2. Alice in Wonderland

3. It Could Happen to You

4. Blue Monk

5. Armando’s Rhumba

6. Op. 11, No. 9

7. How Deep Is the Ocean?

Disc: 3

1. Homage

2. Piano Sonata: The Moon

3. Someday My Prince Will Come

—John Henry

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