Chick Corea
Lenny White
Stanley Clarke
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by A. Scott Galloway – Music Editor Urban Network
In the annals of jazz, few musicians command the collective awe and respect of keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. Between them, they have literally played with ALL of the contemporary jazz and fusion greats, as well as many of the straight ahead pioneers of old. The trio is best known as the originators of the electric edition of jazz-rock fusion quartet Return to Forever.
THIS WEDNESDAY, September 2nd, the trio reunites for a one-of-a-kind evening of music under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, offering up a dizzying buffet of their catalog on the acoustic and electric jazz fronts. Special guests for the evening are singer Chaka Khan, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and ORIGINAL Return to Forever guitarist Bill Connors. Each of these musicians played a special role during the career of these music greats.
Chaka Khan was the featured vocalist for a very special 1982 album produced by drummer Lenny White titled Echoes of an Era. Along with a band consisting of Chick Corea on piano, Stanley Clarke on bass and the late, great horn men Joe Henderson (tenor sax) and Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), they explored vocal renditions of jazz classics such as “Them There Eyes” and “I Loves You Porgy,” ushering funk-rocker Khan into another style of music which she’d also grown up listening to. Her contribution to tonight’s program in the company of her jazz master friends should be nothing short of inspiring and amazing.
Jean-Luc Ponty has recorded some classic duets with Chick Corea on Chick’s double album My Spanish Heart, including the classic “Armando’s Rhumba.” And with Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc also participated in the world tour and album of The Rite of Strings Trio (along with guitarist Al Di Meola). World renowned for his pioneering electric violin work and his classically trained acoustic violin work, Frenchman Ponty will bring an old world class to the proceedings.
Lesser known is guitarist Bill Connors, who is respected among guitar peers. However, he holds a historical milestone in being the original electric guitarist of Return to Forever when co-founders Corea and Clarke shifted the ambient emphasis from Latin-spiced acoustic jazz to electrifying funk-rock fusion on the seminal 1973 Lp Hymn of The Seventh Galaxy. Last year, Return to Forever enjoyed a SRO Reunion tour featuring Corea, Clake, White and guitarist Al Di Meola (who replaced Connors). This Wednesday at the Bowl, the same fans cam now marvel at a reunion of the true original electric lineup of “RTF!”
Opening the show for this legendary lineup is renowned New York City guitarist John Scofield, fronting his latest ensemble The Piety Street Band, which specializes in soulful, gospel-tinged jazz groove.
Don’t miss this historical evening of top-shelf contemporary jazz under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl.
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