Return To Forever at the 02 last night
Posted by: Ewan Aye on 22 July 2008
Huge thanks to RoyleBlue for the tip-off that they were playing as I wouldn't have known.
What a gig!
My favourite jazz drummer of all time Lenny White was doing what he does best. The Keith Moon of the jazz world - so beautifully expressive, but with humour and balance that only he seems to be able to do to this degree. Billy Cobham may be a God, but he doesn't have the ease that Lenny White has. Maybe I'm biased because I've loved his playing for 30 years or more now, but last night he was just as good as he has ever been.
Chick Corea is just the man. He was my hero since I was about 15 when I discovered Return To Forever thanks to my guitar teacher at the time and my love for his music has never diminished. Last night he indulged in some improvisation that sometimes went somewhere, sometimes not, and then it all took off - it soared; the others came in and it went to heaven and back and I was just standing there forgetting to breathe.
Stanley Clarke is just the master, and he knows it too. He can push it, push himself and still make the result ; music. He just oozes music, and it's divine. So easily he could become a flamboyant bass player who allows technique to overshadow why he wants to play in the first place, but that isn't the case. He still above all makes music - he can just do it better than most. An absolute joy.
Al Di Meola was good too. In fact he was fantastic last night. He didn't overplay, and his place in the band is always appropriate and I am lucky to have seen them all together.
I've always had a slight problem with Al Di Meola, probably unfairly because he was young first time around, but his playing was always absolutely on the button, but it lacks that last spiritual lift for me. The others here create more music than they play, if you see what I mean. What comes out is something more than the notes they play. There's something else coming through from behind them as though they are standing in a doorway and something unseen is coming through around them adding to what they are playing. For me, Al Di Meola is a great player, but he lacks that aura of something that can make you forget which planet you're on. Maybe it's the company he keeps that overshadows him, I don't know. Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant, but he leaves me unsatisfied emotionally.
Maybe it's just me.
But what a night! If I never go to another concert again, and I can remember this one, I'll die happy. It was stunningly beautiful. It was as close to God as standing on the Scottish coast watching the clouds tumble over the mountains of Skye.
Thanks RoyaleBlue. If I ever meet you, I'll buy you a cheeseburger
What a gig!
My favourite jazz drummer of all time Lenny White was doing what he does best. The Keith Moon of the jazz world - so beautifully expressive, but with humour and balance that only he seems to be able to do to this degree. Billy Cobham may be a God, but he doesn't have the ease that Lenny White has. Maybe I'm biased because I've loved his playing for 30 years or more now, but last night he was just as good as he has ever been.
Chick Corea is just the man. He was my hero since I was about 15 when I discovered Return To Forever thanks to my guitar teacher at the time and my love for his music has never diminished. Last night he indulged in some improvisation that sometimes went somewhere, sometimes not, and then it all took off - it soared; the others came in and it went to heaven and back and I was just standing there forgetting to breathe.
Stanley Clarke is just the master, and he knows it too. He can push it, push himself and still make the result ; music. He just oozes music, and it's divine. So easily he could become a flamboyant bass player who allows technique to overshadow why he wants to play in the first place, but that isn't the case. He still above all makes music - he can just do it better than most. An absolute joy.
Al Di Meola was good too. In fact he was fantastic last night. He didn't overplay, and his place in the band is always appropriate and I am lucky to have seen them all together.
I've always had a slight problem with Al Di Meola, probably unfairly because he was young first time around, but his playing was always absolutely on the button, but it lacks that last spiritual lift for me. The others here create more music than they play, if you see what I mean. What comes out is something more than the notes they play. There's something else coming through from behind them as though they are standing in a doorway and something unseen is coming through around them adding to what they are playing. For me, Al Di Meola is a great player, but he lacks that aura of something that can make you forget which planet you're on. Maybe it's the company he keeps that overshadows him, I don't know. Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant, but he leaves me unsatisfied emotionally.
Maybe it's just me.
But what a night! If I never go to another concert again, and I can remember this one, I'll die happy. It was stunningly beautiful. It was as close to God as standing on the Scottish coast watching the clouds tumble over the mountains of Skye.
Thanks RoyaleBlue. If I ever meet you, I'll buy you a cheeseburger
Glad you enjoyed it Ewan - I sat there in awe most of the night - especially at Stanley Clarke who I thought was simply outstanding (although as you have said the others weren't too bad either)! I went with my wife - early birthday present for her for today - she doesn't listen to this genre of music and sadly hated every moment - but hey, as I explained she has seen one of the greatest, if not the greatest jazz fusion bands ever - didn't work though!
Re. the cheeseburger - who are you seeing next?
Re. the cheeseburger - who are you seeing next?
If you want an upgrade, then you tell me!
Ewan
Cheers
Jim
You should be a poet! It was that good huh?quote:It was stunningly beautiful. It was as close to God as standing on the Scottish coast watching the clouds tumble over the mountains of Skye.
Cheers
Jim
Ok I'm jealous ..I've just watched and Sky +'ed the concert pictured left ....it was shown last week on Sky Arts HD I'd have loved to have been there at the O2. RTF's "Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy" was one of my earliest jazz fusion purchases (along with everything Mahavishnu) and I've bought a few Chick + Stanley Clarke CDs over the years.
These type of concerts are so often put on in London though which makes attending them a tad expensive for we Northern guys!