Five Peace Band Live (Bril)

Chick Corea, John McLaughlin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 28, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B001VNT1U0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,307 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fusion From the Fantastic Five, March 25, 2009

By 

Bicycle Day - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Five Peace Band Live (MP3 Download)

Any list of the top jazz releases for this year must include this live set taken from the critically-acclaimed Fall 2008 European tour of the "super-group" that was named by John McLaughlin.

The draw may be the two iconic fusion artists - Chick Corea and McLaughlin - but saxophonist Kenny Garrett has a number of outstanding solos, his work on Hymn to Andromeda is an incredible salute to "Trane," and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta emerges out of the mix with a solid style that must be heard to be fully appreciated.

Corea's introduction to Dr. Jackle is blues personified and leads to the band taking full flight with ample space to push one another to sweet solos. McLaughlin keeps his electric guitar is sizzling on Raju, The Disguise and Senor C.S., but his subtle interplay with Corea on Someday My Prince Will Come is the true gem.

Bassist Christian McBride has several very expressive acoustic solos that are grand examples of his artistry. Herbie Hancock guests on piano for In a Silent Way/It's About That Time.

The band is currently on the North American leg of its world tour, with the 2-CD release only available at the shows. This is fusion that is steeped in the history that began with Miles Davis and remains vibrant through those who helped pave the trail continuing to stride in a new direction some 40 years later.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inventive and innovative, April 28, 2009

By 

Bodhi Heeren (Copenhagen) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Peace Band Live (Bril) (Audio CD)

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin made musical history when they played on Miles Davis' landmark albums "In A Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew". Here these two musical legends have united to play some stunning and expressive Music that truly defies any definition, though words like jazz and fusion might be appropriate.

This is really not Mahavishnu Orchestra meets Return To Forever, and it's certainly not a contest in who can play most notes pr. second. Instead it's visonary and creative unfoldments of Here and Now. The very long tracks brimming with intelligent improvisations are mostly of newer date with Mclaughlin's three contributions taken from recent albums "Industrial Zen" and "Floating Point". Corea also delves into recent compositions. We get a jazzstandard, some blues and a medley of Joe Zawinul's "In A Silent Way" and Miles Davis' "It's About That Time" with a brilliant guestspot by Herbie Hancock.

Mclaughlin, who plays clean jazzfusionguitar - no laptop no guitarsynth to the delight of more orthodox fans - and Corea have rarely sounded better than here, clearly inspiring each other to reach for the heights and depths. Supplemented by the great saxplayer Kenny Garrett who matches the intensity and virtuosity of the bandleaders. Christian McBride playing stunningly on both acoustic and electric bass, driving the music with fine jazzy lines and delivering some blistering solos. While drumlegend Vinnie Colaiuta anchors the proceedings in expert style.

An instant classic!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Peace Band, April 6, 2009

By 

Matthew Miller "jazzplayer" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Five Peace Band Live (MP3 Download)

Right now, jazz legends Chick Corea and John Mclaughlin are touring with their "Five Peace Band." The Five Peace Band is a fusion supergroup the likes of which has not been seen since Miles Davis created the genre some forty years ago. Chick and John are joined by Kenny Garrett on alto saxophone, Vinnie Caliuta (to be replaced by Brian Blade in America) on drums, and a personal favorite of mine, Christian McBride on bass.

When they announced the tour last year I was excited and bought tickets to see them when they came to New York as soon as they were available. I was worried briefly, though, that the group may not live up to my expectation. Although John McLauglin is without a doubt one of the most gifted guitarists ever, and a great composer, some of his recent albums have left a bit to be desired when compared to his earlier work (a few are also a bit heavy on the programmed synth for my taste). They have recently put out an album from some of the shows while they were in Europe which has put me at ease, since it is a spectacular collection of material.

Five Peace Band consists of two discs of live material divided into only eight songs (half of which are twenty minutes or longer). The extended tracks let every member of the band have a chance to really stretch out, and they do, with spectacular results. The only real problem with having such long tracks in general is that sometimes they begin to feel stale by the end; there is no reason to say in ten minutes what could be said in five. The Five Peace Band does not have this problem. Each track here follows a natural arc never wears out its welcome. Some, like the opening track "Raju," start with and maintain throughout a driving intensity. Others, like "In a Silent Way/Its About That Time" have a slower or softer intro that over the course of six or seven minutes builds into that sort of driving intensity.

Closing the album is the standard "Someday My Prince Will Come", which is a duet between Chick and John, which remains soft, lilting and beautiful from start to finish. In all cases the songs remain grossly entertaining. The bandmembers know how to listen to eachother are always interacting in interesting ways. Solos sometimes weave in and out of eachother as the musicians swap whose in front more or less as they choose to. The tracks are varied in sound as well. Although Mclaughlin continues to use the same basic subdued tone he has used on everything recently, there is a great deal of sonic variety elsewhere in the band. Chick switches from the Rhodes electric piano to the acoustic on select tracks (such as Jackie Mcleans blues, "Dr Jackle") and Christian McBride switches liberally from electric bass, to plucked or bowed acoustic. All in all, no two tracks sound the same. If that doesn't sound good on its own, then as a bonus, Herbie Hancock sits in with the band on one track, "In a Silent Way/Its About that Time" (the first time Herbie, Chick and John have played that cut together since they recorded with Miles). I don't think words can do that song justice, needless to say its worth the price of admission on its own.

I would recommend that anyone fan of jazz at all at least give this album a look. I can only hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I cannot wait to see them live.