Past, Present & Futures

Chick Corea | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Stretch Records
• ASIN: B00005ATMU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,337 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost Like it Was Live, November 2, 2001

By 

David Dennis "David Dennis" (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Past, Present & Futures (Audio CD)

A few months ago, I saw Chick Corea's new trio live at a restaurant/jazz club in Hollywood (sorry, I don't remember the name of the place...great place for a concert, not so great for the mandatory dinner). The concert was intense, the perfect small-club setting that is ideal for jazz. Chick's new trio performed about half of the tracks from this album, along with some other works (including a Miles-inspired version of 'Someday My Prince Will Come' with singing by Chick's wife).

I love this album, and welcome Chick's return to more classical jazz roots, with some new material mixed in. In particular, the rhythmic explorations of the trio are incredibly great, high-lighted on the opening track 'Fingerprints'. Of particular note is Avishai Cohen's bass playing. The man is intense! Cohen gets my vote for best jazz bass player currently living. Cohen can cover the range from melodic Paul Chambers style to fast-slapping ska-inspired, a la Flea, along with his own, more original (and almost Middle Eastern) directions.

Chick is back in full-force and creativity with this album and, even better, this recording is absolute reference quality. Played on a quality system (or used as evaluation material while shopping for a new one), this issue does an incredible job of capturing the dynamics and soundstage of a live musical event. This is an audiophile quality demonstration disc.

Even if you're new to jazz, get this album. I guarantee you'll be impressed.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inventive and engaging, June 7, 2002

By 

Feller who likes Old Yeller "bottomline5" (Webster, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Past, Present & Futures (Audio CD)

This has quickly become one of my favorite jazz records. Latin-flavored rhythms are always shifting and changing, demanding your attention. The performances are superb. This is really a showcase for Avishai Cohen, even more so than his own solo albums.

The three form one cohesive unit, it seems as though they are reading each others' minds - the interplay and development of musical ideas happens among the three of them as though every note were written down ahead of time, but it always sounds spontaneous.

This album grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn't let go until the bitter end. I enjoyed every minute of it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent trio playing, July 19, 2002

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Past, Present & Futures (Audio CD)

Corea's recent acoustic ensemble playing is a welcome return for those of us who fondly remember his early recordings, and this disc is a very good portrayal of Corea at his acoustic and traditional best.

His sidemen on this recording- Cohen and Ballard- aren't as well known as Pattitucci and Weckl (from the "Akoustik" album) nor do they have chops quite as flashy, but I think this is the more musical, more lyrical album of the two. The "Akoustik" album was at its best when Corea was playing solo; here, the interplay between Corea and his sidemen is much more intimate, more communicative.

A fine recording of a fine performance.