FIVE PEACE BAND (WITH CHICK COREA)

When I heard that Chick Corea was coming out with this fusion band CD so soon after the incredible Return To Forever reunion CD, I was prepared for a letdown. I was quite pleasantly surprised. This collection packs a wallop. I should have known that if you took five great jazz musicians and put them together in a fusion band (I have two Christian McBride CDs, and I didn't even know he could play electric bass like a master) that you would get an amazing group.

The opening track, Raju, sounds like a throwback to the great fusion albums of the seventies. Corea's wonderful Fender Rhodes works perfectly with McLaughlin's electric guitar. Kenny Garrett's sax fills and solos fill out the sound perfectly. And Vinnie Colaiuta is just, well, Vinnie Colaiuta.

The rest of the collection has Corea alternating between the Rhodes and piano, giving some of the songs a more traditional jazz feel, but McLaughlin's electric guitar keeps every tune in fusion territory.

Even the final track, Someday My Prince Will Come", played as a piano/guitar duet, is surprisingly innovative and energetic.

Year 2008 was great in highest class fusion musicians world tours. First one of the greatest fusion band of all times RTF was re-united and visit Europe and States with series of great concerts. I visited very first of them, and it was really great music of great musicians! Later their live show was issued as double CD ("Returns", 2009). The album became a great evidence and contained perfectly played great collection of their best songs ( of their second, more "heavy" line-up).

And just few monthes later another fusion legend John McLaughlin confirmed his world tour with Chick Corea ( member of re-united earlier RTF as well) and three more great jazz musicians! So, I saw them during 2008 fall, and ( belive me, it wasn't easy after I saw reunited RTF some monthes earlier!) was absolutely impressed by their music!

In fact, both bands have many things in common ( incl. very recognisable keyboard /piano sound ,played by Chick Corea in both cases). But there are enough differences as well: Five Peace Band is much more jazzy, more acoustic and plays more improves! And , as in case with RTF, a year later live double CD was released as well!

So, I gave 5 stars to great RTF "Returns" 2 CD album earlier, but McLaughlin-Corea's Five Peace Band is even better!!!

First of all, McL album is much more warmer. Not energy and power demonstration, as in case of RTF last concert album, but more groove and some drive, in good jazz tradition. McLaughlin electric guitar is a bit traditional, but in best traditions of fusion from 70-s. All the band as well is more jazzy, than in case of RTF, so all in all you have there more jazz oriented fusion.

Perfect album, I think one of the best live fusion album of the year 2009.

According to the liner notes this project was Chick Corea's idea and he also picked the musicians to play on it. He and John McLaughlin have been friends for many years. John first heard Chick play in 1967 and he was soon telling anyone who would listed that Corea would soon be with Miles Davis because he was that good. Well his predictions came true as Chick joined Miles in 1968. John would meet Chick in 1969 for the first time for the recording of "In A Silent Way". This "Five Peace Band" is a live recording and as a bonus Herbie Hancock guests on one track, and in my opinion it's far and away the best one. Oh it's happens to be called "In A Silent Way". It's interesting though because that composition out-shines everything else on here, it's not even close in my opinion. And I guess that's my issue with this almost 140 minute double disc, the songs just aren't that great.Yes they are good and I enjoy them somewhat but when you here a track like "In A Silent Way" well there's no comparison i'm afraid. Also I find this album a little too lightweight. Not dynamic enough. I'm reminded of Pat Metheny's "The Way Up" in that it's flawlessly played and impressive to listen to but it's missing the things that I love about Jazz / Fusion.The experimentation, the raw energy and fire, none of that is there on either album in my opinion. It might be because i'm not into traditional Jazz in the least. "Kind Of Blue" lacks everything i'm talking about above and no i'm not a fan of it because it's not electric and it's from the fifties. I don't care how important it was."In A Silent Way" and NUCLEUS' "Eleastic Rock" mean way more to me. Okay the rant is over.

Anyway i'm not going to go track by track because to be honest we get very similar patterens with each of them.The piano will lead and when he stops the crowd will cheer, then the guitar will lead and when he stops the crowd will cheer, then the sax will lead...well you get the picture. It's all played so well and I do enjoy a lot of it but as you can probably tell i'll stick with the late sixties and seventies Jazz / Fusion thankyou. It was much more exciting and adventerous. Still this is good for those who are fans of these legends, just don't get your hopes too high.