This two-disc, 21-track collection covering
Chick Corea's recordings over 30 years offers a dazzling array of settings and styles, originals and standards. It begins with the electrifying title track from 1979's
Tap Step -- which featured the late
Joe Farrell -- in a fusion quintet, continues through his "Bud Powell" composition with then-young lions
Wallace Roney,
Kenny Garrett, and
Christian McBride (along with the timeless veteran
Roy Haynes) in 1989, through to his beautiful solo rendition of "Spain" in 1999, all on disc one.
Corea dazzles technically and is always in stellar company, from younger players like those mentioned above or younger still (
Avishai Cohen) to contemporaries (
Gary Burton and
Michael Brecker), to mentors (
Lee Konitz). While
Corea does play Fender Rhodes and synthesizers on that first cut, the rest of this first disc features his acoustic piano. Disc two is more varied; balanced between Rhodes and acoustic piano. It begins in 2003 with the now familiar "Blue Monk" rendered by
Corea and vocalist
Bobby McFerrin, and moves through his
New Trio period with
John Patitucci and
Dave Weckl, and into the
Elektric Band with those players,
Frank Gambale, and
Eric Marienthal, with "Johnny's Landing" off 2004's
To the Stars. There's a reunion with
Airto on the quintet cut "North Africa" from
The Ultimate Adventure, and a beautiful version of "Fool on the Hill" with Japanese piano sensation
Hiromi. There's another pair of of duets, too: "Señorita" with
Béla Fleck from
The Enchantment, and a live version of "Crystal Silence" with
Burton backed by an orchestra. Disc two closes with a balance of the old and the new. First, there's the crunchy rocking fusion of "The Disguise" from
Five Peace Band: Live, which features
Garrett,
McBride,
Vinnie Colaiuta, and guitarist
John McLaughlin, followed by an unreleased live acoustic version of "La Fiesta" with
Lenny White and
Stanley Clarke from the
Return to Forever "unplugged" tour, which was left off 2011's
Forever. Although
Corea's work has been compiled in various ways before this focused set was released,
The Definitive Chick Corea, produced by the man himself, offers a look at how he views his own work over three decades. ~ Thom Jurek