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Review: Return to Forever at the Paramount
Halfway into set one, Return To Forever timekeeper Lenny White declared: “We’ve waited 25 years for this!” Representing everyone else, a fan yelled: “So have we!” Precious few bands could look forward to a sold-out world tour after being dormant for so long, let alone an instrumental jazz rock outfit. After rehearsing a few days at in the Paramount Theatre, the quartet — keyboardist, founder and primary composer Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al Di Meola, and drummer White — christened their reunion tour with two nights at Austin’s grand 1915 hall.
Miles Davis’ 1969 “In A Silent Way” (featuring Fender Rhodes scholar Corea) painted the backdrop as the four mandarins met a vigorous standing ovation. Opener “Hymn of the 7th Galaxy” came out swinging, but follower “Vulcan Worlds” melted any queries concerning chops or relevance. When the “Sorceress” raised her head, aural alchemy reached the boiling point. Some ticketholders were as old as RTF’s hiatus, but most were a tad younger than the Grammy-winners’ average age of 59. Ladies were not as scarce as at a Rush show, but Y chromosomes populated the venue, with fervent out-of-towners making the pilgrimage. Whistles and whoops of appreciation erupted after: Clarke’s electric bass solo referenced John Coltrane’s masterwork “A Love Supreme,” Lenny White — part Roy Haynes, part Dennis Chambers — snapped out another thunderous groove, and when Corea’s keys and Di Meola’s strings traded harmonic sixty-forth notes.
The baroque space funk of “Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant” closed set two, with encores rounding out two and half hours. One could argue that RTF’s break fueled some of the evening’s success — giving fans a chance to yearn, and the rest time to get hip to the vanguard sounds. Or perhaps it was because Return To Forever is one of the few teams who are both cerebral and funky.
Set 1
Hymn of the 7th Galaxy
Vulcan Worlds
(Senor Mouse)
Sorceress
Song to the Pharaoh Kings
Set 2
Guitar Solo Intro
No Mystery
Piano Solo Intro
The Romantic Warrior
Bass Solo
Drum Solo
Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant
Encores
Beyond the Seventh Galaxy
Dayride
Medieval Overture
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Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Music, Reviews
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By julie
June 2, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
The Thursday show was an incredible event! My husband and I last saw these guys together in the late 70’s and we were thrilled to finally experience their live show once again. The mood of the crowd was over-joyed and the band was on fire! Thank you RTF for returning and for treating Austin to the opening shows of your world tour! THANK YOU!
By John
June 6, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
I could not contain myself during their opening night show in Austin. Possibly the most magical, spirtual, moving musical event I’ve ever attended. I raced home to Houston and took my reluctant 17 yr old son. At intermission I asked if he was bored and ready to go home. His reply was, “Are you crazy Dad! This is the most amazing concert I’ve ever been to”. I couldn’t agree more. Thanks RTF!
By BB
June 15, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
Looking forward to seeing them in Chicago this Friday.