Wednesday, February 08, 2006

"The Ultimate Adventure," Chick Corea (Concord)



Inside Bay Areahas this review of Chic Corea's latest album, being released this weekend:

Muses come in all forms. Chick Corea's current one comes in the shape of L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of the self-improvement movement known as Dianetics and the founder of the Church of Scientology.

Corea, a 12-time Grammy winner and recently named NEA Jazz Master, first mined the Hubbard oeuvre for inspiration on 2004's concept album "To the Stars." Regardless of what one thinks of the controversial author, as well as such famous followers as Tom Cruise, "To the Stars" was certainly a solid effort that featured Corea leading his reunited Elektric Band.

"The Ultimate Adventure" is certainly a trip. The pianist, who helped change the face of jazz as a member of Miles Davis' groups in the late '60s, blends flamenco melodies, North African grooves, Middle Eastern rhythms and straight-ahead jazz improvisation on this new album, which follows the career retrospective "Rendezvous in New York." Corea will support this record with a concert Saturday at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley.

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