Customer Reviews

Three Quartets

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First things first! On track 8, the mind blowing "Confirmation", it is actually Chick playing the drums, as is stated in the liner notes. If you listen to the drumming on that track, you will be able to notice that, although it is definitely Steve Gadd's kit that is being used, the drummer is not Gadd, and therefore is Chick actually manning the drums! Never woulda guessed.....
Now as for the rest of this album, it moves me on a different level. One can just tell that these guys were all in the moment and on the same page with eachother. As I write, I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about this album that makes me feel this way, and all I can offer is that these musicians just MEANT what they were playing in every note.
Quartet No. 1 opens is a great opener, and has two distinct sections to it, the first one Brecker solos on, the second is mainly Eddie's time. Quartet No. 3 comes next, and this is probably my favorite composition on the album. In the first two minutes alone, one hears three different melodies and themes developed, all of which are excellent and thoroughly developed, and the song hardly looks back from then on in. Gomez again shines brightly on this track. Quartet No. 2 parts 1 and 2 come as tracks 3 and 4, respectively. The first part is dedicated to Duke Ellington, a towering enough figure on the piano. However, listen to the first minute or two of this track and you'll be hard pressed to find more soulful piano playing anywhere--this is the stuff that could bring tears to your eyes of pure joy and respect. Part 2, dedicated to Coltrane, opens with Gadd playing the melody out on his kit and the song develops into the highest energy song on here- rousing bop at its best. Chick and Brecker are incredible here, let alone Gadd's one true solo on here. I am a drummer (one incredibly inspired by Gadd), and have no problems with Gadd getting only one solo in the 39 minutes time span of these Quartet songs, for I feel he is often at his best comping behind another soloist. However here, Gadd's solo is so well developed and makes for great analytical material for those who like to transcribe.
The Last four songs on here were not part of the original Three Quartets album, and rightly so. I have no qualms with these songs, they are all consistently high quality, BUT they definitely are not up to the quality of the first four tracks, which is why Chick did not have them on the original album. For that, these songs are a little disappointing on here, but that's just because the first four songs are so good that it becomes almost impossible to top that. Were these 4 tracks found on another album, then the light shone on them would make them much more appealing. Folk Song is actually quite good. It has a theme which is repeated and developed upon several times. Same goes for both Hairy Canary, my least favorite on here, and Slippery When Wet, which has a rather distinctive 4 bar theme played over and over for the 6 minute duration. Like mentioned earlier, Brecker and Chick go for a work out on the Bird's Confirmation, which is very entertaining for is 6:15 duration.
In all, if you care for bop at all, then this album is a must. I cannot say enough good things about this album, and it is one of my top 5 favorite albums of my personal collection.

I've been listening to this recording consistently for over 12 years and it still leaves me speechless.

I believe this recording has left us with something I can only describe as beyond inspired. I hear something new every time...a twist in the harmony, the turn of a phrase, dialogue between bass and drums...

This is one of two albums, the other being Weather Report's Heavy Weather, that I feel I'll never get to the bottom of...

I anticipate getting as much joy out of in twelve years as I have the last twelve.

Thanks, Chick, Steve, Eddie and Michael.

Phenominal!

Chick Corea is a master of all keyboard instruments. He's a piano virtuoso. In this extraudinary project, Chick gives credit to some of the masters before him. John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans...

And fine musicians are with him such as Michael Brecker on tenor sax, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Steve Gadd on drums. This is not fusion by any means.

This is Chick's approach to jazz music. He's swinging in his own style. This recording was pretty refreshing to listen to. If you prefer Chick's days before he went full time into the fusion scene, you'll love this album.

As a professional tenor saxophone player, Three Quartets is a "must have". Michael Brecker shines bright on this album. I have studied and have played Michael's solos on this album via a book of unauthorized transcriptions. Michael's work is, as always, impeccable. Also focus on Chick's work here. You will not be disappointed.

Buy this cd, if not for the songs, for his compositions because they are fascinating and wild. Who ever would of thought of these chords and melodies? Songs are abstract, yet somehow they are melodically synchronized and flow with the complex rhythms. I dont think anyone in a million years could think up of the stuff that chick corea comes up with. Very nice acoustic feel as well. i love acoustic bands because it is very natural, no digitalized things.

There just aren't enough stars for this one!

This was one of the first jazz albums I ever got, and very few have ever matched this one for intensity, interplay, empathy and overall collaborative effort. The acoustic music Corea and company make here is nothing short of breathtaking.

Corea composed the music specifcally for these musicians, and it suits them perfectly. At the time, Brecker was playing with Gadd and Gomez in Steps. I'm sure that Brecker was tight musically with Gomez and Gadd, and then Corea puts it all together.

Corea is an such a gifted musician to begin with. Here he assembles a group here which consists of players who were at the top of their game. While these types of projects often result in loose blowing sessions, here the emphasis is on collaboration. Corea's compositions are terrific, and extremely well played.

I remember being dissapointed a while back, when Three Quartets was out of print on LP, and not released on CD yet. Our patience was rewarded when the CD was finally released with bonus tracks added. While the tracks aren't as cosmic as the performances from the original lp, they are a lot of fun.

Fans of Brecker probably have this one already. His playing is so sensative at times, and when it's time to burn his playing is incindiary. Gomez is terrific (understatement!) as always, and Gadd plays his heart out. Corea created a masterpiece with Three Quartets. Every facet of the production is carried out with tender loving care. The sound of this one is terrific, as is the overall album conception.

Shawn

I cannot really express in words what this music means to me. This album is a very rare musical treasure, and has been like the voice of god for me 23 years or so, since I first purchased it on vinyl. There is no one in my personal life with whom I can share my love for this music; so I was happy recently seeing some well-written reviews from members of "my family" that I have never met. I always knew there were others out there who knew about the brilliance of "Three Quartets".

I agree with others (including Chick - see his note in booklet) that the extras don't really belong on this album. The majesty, pathos, bliss, and orgasmic shakti of the three main pieces put them in a class by themselves. They are serious and sacred compositions, and these recordings represent a historical convergence of talent and inspiration.

As a college student in the early 80's, I was so rocked by this comet that blew through my solar system, that I wrote Chick a letter of heartfelt thanks -- and HE WROTE ME BACK. I attached that letter to the cover my Three Quartets LP, and there it remains today. The man has great heart, and his musical imagination calls to us from a most remarkable realm. Some of us recognize the same in ourselves, and journey a short while with him.

Originalmente conocí este disco a través del DVD "Rendevouz New York" y me encantó. Simplemente un jazz perfecto. Coincido con los reviews de ese DVD en el que mencionan que es demasiado corto. Después vi este disco y lo compré de inmediato. No dudo que es uno de mis 10 mejores discos de Jazz, compartiendo la lista con Dave Brubeck, E.S.T, Brad Mehldau y Rigmor Gustafsson.

Corea's patented brand of jacked-up acoustic jazz is in full effect, with such a great band rarely stopping to contemplate how amazing some this chemistry is, in a near nonstop flurry of intellectual playfulness with emotional backbone.

This is my favorite Chic Corea's Album.
It is amazing that after so many years of recording this reedition could be considered a real masterpiece in the jazz genre.

Chic is the the genious who established the link between the new and the old school.

Tribute to the people who inspired him.

I've been listening this recording for more than 20 years.
for me 5+ stars.