Customer Reviews

To the Stars (Dig)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A beautiful shiny silver sleekly designed package was found in my mail box this morning, CCEB's To the Stars. Drooling in anticipation I tore open the package (which contains a nice colourful booket that has all of the cursory information required to see how Chick envisioned the pieces with his mind's eye) removed the disc and threw it into my PC for a listen.

Similar to some of the other CCEB albums from the past it's thematic (i.e. CCEB's debut from 1986, also inspired by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard), a movie if you will, where every piece and interlude is tied together as a cohesive story. I could see this being staged as a theatre play. There is a blend of elektric and acoustic throughout. The opening piece immediately grabs your attention and pulls you in for the journey. Without getting too long winded here, let me just say that in my opinion it's a masterpiece and worth every cent. I already know it'll stay in my player for awhile and get many repeat listenings. There isn't a wasted moment to my ears either. It makes most fusion albums seem like disorganized rambling meaningless child's play in comparison, imo. This cd is a visionary well thought out production, tightly wound and Chick's composing and imagination here is top notch. The band plays passionately. Highlights for me include, "Check Blast" (roaring opener), "Johnny's Landing" (Weckl's awesome), "Hound A Heaven" (incredibly HIP opening groove factor on this one), "The Long Passage/Port View 6" (jam packed, many ideas at play, great unison ensemble passages, great little solo from Chick that starts shortly after the 3 minute mark, the tune then expertly ties into an epic close with Port View 6), the FABULOUS "Jocelyn the Commander" (at 2:37, Frank Gambale plays a haunting distorted solo in this one that suits the mood of the piece BEAUTIFULLY, just an amazing piece [perhaps the best track?] and I love how it ends!!!!) and the stellar album closing 2 part "Captain Jocelyn", especially the 2nd part(beautiful). I love those Port Views too, they are integral parts of the experience! EVERYONE should own a copy of this cd! It's really good!

There is such a high degree of complexity in the music of this CD that I am amazed that these gentleman pull it off with such ease. These "Cats" jam. And jam hard. This CD opens up full throttle with the intent of saying "we came to play". Then we are taken on a musical journey thru various chapters of a story being told to us. The songs/joints/stories all seem to blend nicely into a seamless tale. I gather that these musicians are having a sense of pure joy performing this music. I really appreciate the virtuosity of their musical performances. Looking forward to seeing this music performed live. As with most things of life, I guess it is either you like it or you don't like it. I like it. I would say listen to it a couple of times before passing judgement on it. Power to all those that create.

I am shocked at the negative reviews given by most people who reviewed this CD. Each CD done by this band was different from the other. This is exactly what makes chick corea a genuis. He is always trying to challenge himself and the musicians around him. The music and technique on the CD is breathtaking and complex and it requires listeners to be on the same wavelength with these incredible musicians. The tunes are well written and performed. Chick, you are the greatest.

From a real fan.

...about a Chick Corea Elektric Band recording: Too many notes. There is so little space in this music that I find it a fatiguing listen. The musicianship is astoundng, as usual. The recording quality is excellent. Most of the charts aren't bad at all either. But, it seems to me that these guys went one step, and only one step, too far along the virtuosity scale. It seems that they are just barely staying out of one another's way.

I'm normally a huge fan of the Elektric Band. In this case, I'd have to recommend one of their other recordings, particularly the stellar "Eye of the Beholder" over this one.

I'm a fan of Chick Corea since the late Sixties. I really do not understand how such a talented musician could ever have produced such a boring record.
I've always sustained that impeccable technique does not necessarily result in good music. Well here is a crude demonstration of this theory... How could he do this to us?
It seems that Chick Corea is now more interested in spreading L. Ron Hubbard's "philosophy" turned into "religion" than in making music. This will by no means diminish his place in the history of jazz. But I'm so sorry that he gave up on music...
This record deserves no more than one star, but I'll allow a second one for the sake of Chick Corea's glorious past.

While many of the folks have given this record a thumbs down, I'm giving this record 5 stars. The energy of the music here is amazing. I too have all the EB records, and I would say that this one does it for me too just as good as Eye of the beholder, Inside out etc. The recording is great. The music covers various rhythms, and the arrangments are great. The band sounds tighter. I mean, anytime you have these guys (corea, weckl, gambale, patitucci, marienthal) flex thier musical muscles in beautiful, complicated, high-energy music, what could be bad about that? These guys are the best in their instruments in their latest EB recording. What else do you expect?

This is not my favorite Electrik band recording but it is still a very ambitious effort indeed. The band is tight as ever and the Theme of the recording, based on L. Ron Hubbard's science fiction novel, is very interesting. I recently saw the band perform in Boston and they played almost the entire song list from the cd. To see these guys play this material live was just unbelievable.They made it look so easy and effortless. If you are a fan of Chick's music you won't be disappointed. And if the Electrik band is playing somewhere near you, you owe it to yourself to see this talented group perform.

...give 'em selections from the book! Great! I dont have to buy the book now as I've read the Cliffs notes for it.
Got it @ Virgin for %40 off just prior to them closing. Am I glad I didnt pay the full price of $18.99! And all the $ goes to the Church of Scientology I bet.
And for just 7 good songs out of 17.
I couldnt care less of Mr.Corea's religious views, or his beliefs in the writings of the science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, creator of Dianetics, and that crackpottery called Scientology.

Look, just rip the 7 songs, burn to MP3, and leave the rest.
I sure hope his other albums are much better though, otherwise, he will go the way of Carlos Santana, it's all in the past.

This review on Chick Corea Elektric Band's 'To the stars' has been written for those who like rock and particularly progressive rock but cannot find anything interesting in jazz. This album is then for you.

But first an explanation to this strange slant on this review. My musical journey began as a child with listening to Simon and Garfunkel, hymns, bagpipes and later in my teens, The Beatles and Queen. Yes, I know...a weird combination, yet all these albums opened my ears to new sounds and musicians. After thinking that the group Kansas were the most amazing musicians I had come across till that point (then 1979), a friend asked me to listen to Al di Meola and Steve Gadd on the album 'Casino'. He then introduced me to Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth. I started dabbling in other genres like the fusion world of 'Return to Forever'. Initially I was very puzzled and could not get into albums like Chick's 'Three quartets' but the music bug had got a hold of me.

Not surprisingly many Chick Corea fans hate this album and find it clinical and with little swing. That's because it is often closer to an instrumental rock album - what I refer to as extreme fusion jazz. In many ways this is like some of the earlier 'Return to Forever' and 'Mahavishnu Orchestra' sounds. What is common to all is uncompromising, excellent musicianship. This album showcases five top music legends who have played together at various times for the last 25 years. The intrepid leader, composer and master keyboardist, Chick Corea showcases his talents and those of Frank Gambale, the sweep-picking electric and acoustic guitarist, Eric Marienthal, top alto saxman, John Patitucci, the most sought after all-round jazz bassist for a quarter of a century and finally the greatest fusion drummer of the last twenty years, Dave Weckl.

This album rips open with 'Check Blast' a flurry of intense drumming, piano stabs and exchange of a few bars of short sharp solos from each of the five that culminate into some unplayable-by-most others in-unison riffs that shift in and out. Each piece is connected by what is referred as a 'Port view' of edgy keyboard bed of sound. This is a concept album telling the story of a science fiction saga and Chick's inspiration. For proggers the idea of a concept album that is linked is certainly closer to their world.

The following tracks 'Mistress Luck - A portrait' will probably be a challenge to rockers as here the swing and samba rhythms come to the fore. I will say though if this is distracting, focus on the guitaring of Gambale who duets his way through and shreds during the 'Mistress Luck - The party'. However it is tracks like these that will introduce you into the delights of jazz.

'Johnny's landing' has a cool sax dominated groove that reminded me very much of a 'Weather report' track all over a delightful percussive Weckl tour-de-force. Just when it seems a little bland, there are some amazing dark aggressive runs that builds to a long Gambale solo and later an organic Marienthal solo and more combined lines with sax and guitar together ending with Weckl at his best doing what Peart, Bruford and Portnoy dream they could do.

'Alan Corday' is in the style of latin infused jazz with more acoustic sounds. This will be a more challenging listen to prog rockers. So too will be the 'Hound of Heaven' another 'Weather report' like calypso-edged track with African township sax sounds. It has a mean fusion distorted Gambale solo that will be of interest to rockers although I think would have fitted better on acoustic. Be patient, more is to come.

'The long passage' is majestic, complex track that builds with some intriguing twists and turns along the way including some choral vocal sounds. A number of guitar sax combined lines keep linking the keyboard interludes as the musical tension slowly increases. Marienthal plays a brooding, challenging solo that will disturb which is followed by Gambale and ultimately this all combines.

`Jocelyn - The Commander' begins like a soundtrack to a movie with unusual sound effects behind a repetitive piano and rhythmic Ravel-like motif. The drums and sax weave into the mix. Gambale then plays one of his greatest solos that ultimately soars with the rest of the band. The album ends with a crescendo of musical themes coming together followed by captain Chick alone on the piano.

I loved the sound production on this album - the way all instruments can be heard even in the busiest and loudest pieces. Weckl's drumming is particularly well recorded and I prefer his contribution here to his often over-playing on his solo albums.

Here is an album that improves with each repeated listen. If you've not listened to jazz fusion before, give this one a try...or at least go back to the original fusion of the wonderful remastered 'Return to Forever' 'Romantic Warrior

It's been a while since the last Elektric Band album, but need no worries because they still deliver very well like no others do. The composition is quite excellence, composed the way only Corea does which is distinct in style and complexity. You can feel the same basic recipe applied as in some previous Elektric Band albums, but Corea's creativity and musicianship enable him to produce fresh, involving and entertaining compositions. Some songs have Spanish style / influences, which are nice and very well arranged. Some "space" or "galactic" kind of sound appear in this album, which is the only downside here, does not give positive contribution the the overall music, but don't let it prevent you from enjoying a good, solid album. Performance is of a high standard one can expect from these boys. In particular I like Dave Weckl playing, where he sounds more mature with deeper exploration of his drumming skill compared to what I heard in his own albums. Sound quality of cd is also good. I'm aware of some mixed reviews here, but I can honestly recommend it for jazz fusion lover & especially Corea or elektric band fans.