Customer Reviews

Rendezvous in New York

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The people from Stretch and Concord Records never seize to amaze me with their latest release from Chick Corea "Rendezvous in New York", featuring the talented Bobby McFerrin scatting his way through three tunes, one being "BLUE MONK" in a classic performance.

Several highlights come to mind "GLASS ENCLOSURE/TEMPUS FUGIT", a tribute to the Bud Powell Band ~ "CRYSTAL SILENCE", featuring Chick along with Gary Burton as two master musicians work so well together ~ "LIFELINE", gives us the Chick New Trio, with some bright spots to enjoy.

Listen Jazz fans, this is one not to miss ~ should be on top of the stack you play every week. The recording is crisp and clear as a bell. An intimate evening with classical crossovers into the World of Jazz by Corea!

Total: 2-CD-Set ~ Stretch Records 9041 ~ (4/22/2003)

Although his technical prowess on the ivories can sometimes overshadow emotional involvement, Corea's intimate but epic recordings here show why he still remains one of the most vital and versatile jazz pianists several decades still after arrival.

Jazz fans, this album is destined to be ranked as one of the great live jazz concert albums of all time, right up there with 'Live at the Village Vanguard' and 'Waltz for Debbie'.

The partnering performances with Chick range from the whimsical and eclectic (e.g. Bobby McFarrin) to the lyrical and inspired (Joshua Redman).

And, to top it all off, this is a sonically incredible recording, available as both a 'regular' CD and SACD off the same disk...and for those of you who don't yet have an SACD player, this album is a heck of a reason to get one!

This is a very good recording, but lacks a little soul. Happy to have it, but not one of my go-to discs for CC.

As a 19 year old jazz pianist, Chick Corea has always been one of my favorite jazz pianists (along with Evans, Jarrett and Hancock). I think the first CD that I was mesmerized by him was "Play" with McFerrin and "Corea/Hancock" with the ultimate Herbie.

When I first bought this recording, I was immediately hooked. There's nothing like hearing Bobby McFerrin on the first three tracks, whistling, making guttural noises, and playing off random sentences, i.e. "This is important stuff" in Blue Monk and "Thank You" in Armando's Rhumba. In my opinion, Bobby McFerrin is Chick's best duo partner to date.

Matrix and Glass Enclosure/Tempus Fugit displays Chick's right hand virtuosity (inspired by Bud Powell), as well as the splendor of the many musicians that play with him (specifically, Roy Haynes, Terence Blanchard). People should not be disappointed by these performances at all.

I wasn't as hooked to Crystal Silence, Bessie's Blues and Autumn Leaves...as much as I respect and love John Patittucci and Gary Burton, I couldn't hear the intensity that I heard between Bobby and Chick.

My favorite group after Bobby and Chick has to be Gonzalo playing with the Berklee grad. I've bought a few of Gonzalo's stuff, not really too impressed with his music. However, pair his complex Cuban rhythms and tempo changes with Chick's lyrical voicing in Spain, and you got a hit...a nice track to hear (especially around the 4 minute mark in the piece). Armando's Tango is repetitive, playing off the same melody and chords as the Rhumba. Quartet No. 2 and Lifeline also have their moments, but not as special as the tracks on the first CD.

I'm surprised that George Benson was there but did not play. Even Chaka Khan, what are they thinking? They could have had an amazing jam session.

The main reason that I'm giving this CD set 4 stars is the fact that Chick doesn't play with his two best groups of all time...the duo of him and Herbie Hancock and his best band of all time, Return to Forever. I was really hoping we could have heard Lenny White, Stanley Clarke and the many others that were an integral part from that band.

All in all, a fabulous CD...

As seems often the case with Corea, the disc Rendezvous in New York is a mix of tracks you'll want to
play over and over and others you'll want to skip.