- 1,381Recommend It!
- 19,396views
DVD/Video/Film Reviews
Chick Corea: Rendezvous in New York
John Kelman
With the realization that there will always be more music coming at him than he can keep up with, John wonders why anyone would think that jazz is dead or dying.The final disc of the box is the theatrical documentary that includes tracks representing all the groups who performed during Corea's birthday celebration. Narrated by actor Jeff Goldblum—also a fine pianist—it features interviews with many of the participants, as well as other artists who showed up for guest appearances not documented in the set, or just to be there for the occasion. While the nine discs that document each group from the engagement are the kind that will demand repeated replays, the documentary will be of more passing interest. Still, it provides further insight into Corea, and acts as a worthy retrospective look at his career in the acoustic arena.
While some will bemoan Corea's decision not to represent any of his electric fusion projects, the simple truth is that as strong as some of them are, many of them have become dated, either through technology or the kind of high-concept virtuosic-based premises on which they were founded.
Releasing a box of this scope might cause some folks to wonder if nearly ten hours of concert and documentary footage is simply Corea overkill. But Corea's career has been marked by a personal playing style that, while always discernable, has constantly moved forward. And his writing style, combining roots in classical composition, Latin music and the jazz tradition, has always been very specifically tailored to whatever musical project he's had on the go at any given time. There's no doubt that everyone will have their favourite discs on Rendezvous in New York, but as a whole it stands as an ambitious, far-reaching look at the life of an artist who still has many more years of adventure ahead of him
Visit Chick Corea on the web.
Disc One: Chick Corea/Bobby McFerrin Duet
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Bobby McFerrin: voice; Béla Fleck: banjo on "Spain.
Tracks: Introduction; Improv 7—Istanbul; The Frog; 'Round Midnight; Autumn Leaves; Introduction 2; Spain; Smile; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 47:00
Disc Two: Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Trio
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Miroslav Vitous: double-bass; Roy Haynes: drums.
Tracks: Introduction; How Deep is the Ocean; Rhythm-a-Ning; But Beautiful; Matrix; Straight, No Chaser; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 48:00.
Disc Three: Remembering Bud Powell Band
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Terence Blanchard: trumpet; Joshua Redman: tenor saxophone; Christian McBride: double-bass; Roy Haynes: drums.
Tracks: Introduction; Glass Enclosure/Tempus Fugit; Oblivion; Uno Poco Loco; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 50:00.
Disc Four: Chick Corea/Gary Burton Duet
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Gary Burton: vibraphone.
Tracks: Introduction; Love Castle; Mirror Mirror; Duende; Monk's Dream; Crystal Silence; Bud Powell; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 53:00.
Disc Five: Chick Corea Akoustic Band
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; John Patitucci: double-bass; Dave Weckl: drums.
Tracks: Introduction; Bessie's Blues; Someday My Prince Will Come; Humpty Dumpty; My One and Only Love; Spain; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 48:00.
Disc Six: Chick Corea & Origin
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Avishai Cohen: double-bass; Jeff Ballard: drums; Tim Garland: saxophones, bass clarinet; Steve Wilson: saxophones, clarinet; Steve Davis: trombone.
Tracks: Introduction; Hand Me Down; Armando's Tango; It Could Happen to You; Wigwam; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 56:00.
Disc Seven: Chick Corea/Gonzalo Rubalcaba Duet
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Gonzalo Rubalcaba: piano.
Tracks: Introduction; Toccata (improv 7); Melodic Conversation; Carnaval; Scenes, Shadows and Particles; Concerto de Aranjuez/Spain; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 50:00.
Disc Eight: Chick Corea New Trio
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Avishai Cohen:double-bass; Jeff Ballard: drums.
Tracks: Introduction; La Fiesta; Nostalgia; Revolving Door; Dignity; Anna's Tango; Fingerprints; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 52:00.
Disc Nine: Three Quartets Band
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; Michael Brecker: tenor saxophone; Eddie Gomez: double-bass; Steve Gadd: drums.
Tracks: Introduction; Quartet No. 1; Quartet No. 2 Part 1; Quartet No. 2 Part 2; Quartet No. 3; End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 53:00.
Disc Ten: Rendezvous in New York: The Movie
Personnel: Chick Corea: piano; various others.
Tracks: Introduction; Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Trio: Matrix; Three Quartets Band: Quartet No. 2, Part 1; Chick Corea/Gonzalo Rubalcaba Duet: Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain; Chick Corea/Bobby McFerrin Duet: Armando's Rhumba; Chick Corea Akoustic Band: Humpty Dumpty; Chick Corea/Gary Burton Duet: Crystal Silence; Remembering Bud Powell Band: Oblivion; Chick Corea New Trio: Lifeline; Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Trio: Straight, No Chaser; Chick Corea & Origin: Hand Me Down; Chick Corea/Bobby McFerrin Duet: Smile/End Credits. Approximate Running Time: 100:00.
DVD Review #2
Chick Corea: Rendezvous In New York
