Customer Reviews

Arc

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There's an old saying that the flame that burns twice as bright also burns twice as fast (or something like that). Well that saying holds true for the jazz trio of Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Barry Altschul. They only made two albums together as a trio, "The Song Of Singing" (see my review) and this title "A.R.C.," and two albums with Anthony Braxton joining them to form the group Circle -- "Early Circle" and "Paris Concert." (With the exception of "A.R.C.," all of these titles are now out of print domestically.) The thing all four of these excellent recordings share is an amazing synergy and a telepathic improvisational understanding between Corea's piano, Holland's bass and Altschul's drums. Unfortunately, "A.R.C." is the weakest of these four discs. Recorded in January 1971, it is the third release chronologically, but it runs out of ideas as if it was the last session. Miles Davis' "Nefertiti" is revisited again (it also appears on "Song Of Singing" and "Paris Concert") and the remainder of the album consists of songs written by Corea, Holland or the trio. I like these tunes enough, but they just don't quite have that vital, fresh feeling of new discovery that underlies the other three efforts. That being said, with those other three titles available only as pricey imports, or unavailable altogether, "A.R.C." becomes all the more attractive.

Chick Corea (piano)
David Holland (bass)
Barry Altschul (percussion)

If one had to choose a record exemplifying the proverbial coldness of the piano sound, this album driven by Chick Corea's piano would be a good candidate. But beware: it is not the usual studied, ostentatious cold of many newage or minimalist piano records. This music is undoubtedly jazz. It swings, takes sudden turns, draws quick vignettes in the air and then leaves them to fade. It's kept up by compelling funky bass lines and unpredictable percussive bursts. Nevertheless, even when it burns it is a gelid flame that cannot hide its aristocratic, inaccessible nature. It's a listening that leaves you refreshed, like being ran over by a whiff of icy wind.