THE CHICK COREA NEW TRIO
Past, Present & Futures (Stretch)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Lost wanderers from the 70s won't find their return to forever here. Chick Corea and his trio (Avishai Cohen on acoustic bass and Jeff Ballard on drums) explore territory new to even the well traveled and legendary pianist, and from each destination the expedition returns something of value. Opening with a tribute to Wayne Shorter's classic "Footprints," the trio sneaks up on it, taking it apart and reassembling it without instructions. Cleverly titled "Fingerprints," the pieces finally come together in a crystalline salute to Shorter in the final minute. As challenging as this tune is, it only hints at what lies ahead in pieces such as "Rhumba Flamenco," an explosion of exotic beauty and imagination fuel punctuated by blowaway performances by all three musicians. A portal to the past is explored in Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz," performed with respect, Ballard giving just the right touch with brushes, but along the way the Trio finds the paths not previously taken and, in their confident manner, off they go. Past, Present & Futures is such an unusual work in that it contains mostly intense, complex, challenging music, and yet to turn the lights down and let it run its 70 minute course is a relaxing, rejuvenating experience. There's plenty of gently astounding music leading up to the intensive, climactic "Life Line," which will send you back out into the world, most likely, with a new favorite jazz CD and perhaps a higher standard, which means you're going to be looking to Europe and Japan for your jazz from now on, my friend.

© 2001 - DJ Johnson