Return to Forever is on tour!

[phlemmy]

http://www.chickcorea.com/on_tour.php

I just got my tix for one of the Austin shows.

Corea
Dimeola
Clarke
White

[jps]

I'm going!!!

[phlemmy]

Most expensive concert ticket I have ever purchased.

[wints]

I'm there in Clearwater. Great location, the REH.

[phlemmy]

Two years ago I had tix to see Dimeola live in Norfolk, VA. When we got to the venue there was a sign on the door stating that the show had been canceled. I was crushed. I've been a huge fan of Dimeola's fusion jazz work since about 1989 and had always wanted to see him play. Now I am all excited once again!

[johneek]

Sean...Too funny that we were talking about them just several days ago (Cheapo Records?). Have a great time!

[ben_brown]

Yes I'll be going as well. Merriweather Post Pavillion August 4th.....$150

[mrs_brown]

Sure hope Socal is after Aug 4th..

[squirefan01]

I'm seeing them on Boston at a great tented venue! Bela Fleck & The Flecktones opening. Maybe Wooten & Clarke will jam together a little bit. Can't wait!

[jps]

I'm seeing them on Boston at a great tented venue! Bela Fleck & The Flecktones opening. Maybe Wooten & Clarke will jam together a little bit. Can't wait!

That should be great. I saw Stanley with Bela when they did their Trio tour with Jean Luc Ponty a couple years ago.

[bottom4]

I get to see them in NYC

Saw Vic, Stanley and Marcus a couple of years ago in NYC at BP Live – They’re planning some shows for this year. Saw Vic with Chic New Years Eve at the Blue Note. Great shows all around

[phlemmy]

TONIGHT!!!

[wayang]

I have an extremely unflattering anecdote concerning Chick Corea, but I've learned my lesson...you will definitely not hear it from me in this forum...

But by all means, Phlemmy et al, please enjoy the show...and do yourself a favor: leave the free copies of "Dianetics" on the t-shirt table in the lobby where they belong.

[wints]

I have an extremely unflattering anecdote concerning Chick Corea, but I've learned my lesson...you will definitely not hear it from me in this forum...

But by all means, Phlemmy et al, please enjoy the show...and do yourself a favor: leave the free copies of "Dianetics" on the t-shirt table in the lobby where they belong.

Right with you DPT ( as usual...)

Actually I wouldn't use the free Dianetics to wipe my arse, even if they were out of paper in the bathrooms. It deserves better than that...

Living here, close to L.Ron's assumed backyard, I have a few stories to tell as well...

[phlemmy]

Sorry Dane, no copies of Dianetics anywhere to be found. I thought everyone has read that book already anyway, I read most of it ages ago but I didn't "get it." I don't disagree with some of the basic tenets of the concept, but overall it's not my bag.

Anyway...

The show last night was pretty incredible. They played for almost 3 hours with a 15-20 break in the middle and it was the opening show of the tour. When the first song started, it seemed like they had a few butterflies. By the end of the song and into the next one, you could see them relax and do their thing. I'll be the first to admit that I prefer Dimeola's solo works over RTF and I was really hoping they'd go off course and play something from Land of the Midnight Sun (which basically had the RTF lineup on it) or Elegant Gypsy, but alas, no. They stuck with the 3 Dimeola era albums.

I am a HUGE fan of Dimeola's 70s solo stuff and a big reason for that was due to Lenny White. The RTF stuff in general and IMO is a little more tame than Al's solo works. When Al went solo, all stops were pulled. He was no longer the teenager in a jazz fusion trying to make a name for himself, he was now a guitarist...the guitarist.

Even though I play bass, I am still a drummer at heart. I always knew that Stanley Clarke was a bass god and I've watched my share of Youtube vids of him. But seeing him up close and in person doing what he does was simply amazing. He played an Alembic for most of the night and of course the stand up bass. His hand work on both of those was mind-numbing. I was forewarned about his abilities by my guitarist who worked a studio session with Stanley in the early 80s. He had a white Fender Jazz with him but he never played it.

I'm not the biggest fan of keyboards but it always seemed to work well with the 70s fusion stuff. Corea was incredible. Period.

Now what I am about to say stings me a little. I was a bit let down by Dimeola and Lenny White. Yes, both were incredible in their own right, but Al has seemingly lost a step. He didn't seem as fluid as I expected. Maybe he's out of practice a little, I don't know, but I wasn't the only one who noticed. Lenny White did a fine job on the drums, but something seemed to be missing. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expected more of the self-indulgent shred of Dimeola's solo work with Lenny in the background playing like a madman. The RTF, again, was more subdued. So I'll blame my memory and not their playing. ha. It was cool seeing Al use his trademark black Les Paul for most of the night. He also used a PRS and a classical guitar. On the classical, we got treated to a 10 minute session of nothing but Dimeola and NOTHING seemed to be lacking from his talents while playing that guitar.

One thing that was noticeable...they were having fun. Especially Clarke. That dude has to be close to 7' tall. I've never seen anyone play a stand up bass the way he did. The show was great and I left feeling deflated about my musical abilities yet inspired to start taking bass lessons. We'll see if I actually do the latter.

Go see this tour if you're into RTF. You won't be let down. Well worth the $120 ticket (we had GREAT seats).