THE MOTHERSHIP RETURNS

Return To Forever

Jazz Rock/Fusion

4.52 | 63 ratings

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Argonaught

Where to begin ..

Not a single musician in this band needs to be introduced to the followers of contemporary jazz. Apart from Frank Gambale, whose first record wasn't out until 1980s, the rest of the Mothership's crew - Chick Corea, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White - have been faring the vast post-bop space since the era of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

You don't expect anything less than excellent from grandmaster Chick and Team; we are kind of used to it. Thus, I expected the excellency and the galaxy-class musicianship from The Mothership Returns, and the expectations were duly met and exceeded.

There are two amazing things about this double CD: first is the sound quality. I don't know what the trick is, honestly .. how you can make a live recording with such crisp, crystal-clear and balanced sound. Second, is the sheer enthusiasm and vigor, demonstrated by the bunch of these sixty-plus and seventy years old venerable grandpas.

Compositions-wise, The Mothership revisits some of the grandest planets of the Fusion Universe, once discovered by Admiral Chick and Captain Jean-Luc. Some of the best jazz fusion pieces ever.

This star crew somehow manage to play long virtuoso solos without encroaching on each other's and common sound matrix. A special honorable mention to The First Officer Stanley Clarke: if he ever came out with an album on which there is nothing else but his bass solos, I'd buy it and listen to at least once a week :)

Will these guys ever get tired of making the best music in the Universe?

Argonaught | 5/5 | 2013-6-23

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