I saw Return To Forever live last night at the Gibson Amphitheatre here in Los Angeles.
http://return2forever.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/407596/pid/407463

Wow, what a show. Words just can't express how awesome this band was. It's a collection of virtuosos that leaves you totally speechless. Chick Corea played spectacular synthesizer parts as I expected he would. He actually used a Yamaha Motif XS88 a lot in addition to his Rhodes piano and analog synths.

But Lenny White, Al Di Meola and Stanley Clarke also played inspirational parts. What a band. This is what music is all about.

[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 06-15-2008).]

I'm jealous! I'll see them as soon as they're in the area. Saw their last live concert here in Lexington in 1976.

Bet it was GREAT, Nigel!


Russ

I know you won't miss them Russ if the tour is passing close to you. Seeing them was everything I hoped it would be. While I have seen them all play separately over the years, I'd never seen them all play together in the original lineup. Return To Forever really are in my mind the best band of all time. I feel very lucky to have been able to see them 25 years later. You will just love it Russ.

Nigel, my friend Zack Brock is still gigging with Stanley Clark occasionally, and is still in the running for working with the old crew in some fashion in the future. He'd play the Jean Luke parts from the association with Chick after Return to Forever.

That would be GREAT to see!


Russ

I just love jazz violin. I have been listening to Jean Luc Ponty for so many years now starting with Frank Zappa on Uncle Meat. I also saw him perform live with The Mothers Apostrophe tour in the early 70s. Then I saw him with his own band back in the 90s as well as seeing him with Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham. I just love that violin. But I also saw Stephane Grappelli live in Australia years ago. He is the the one who first opened my ears to jazz violin playing with Django so many years ago. I love that gyspy jazz.

I also was a big fan of Papa John Creech from Hot Tuna when he was alive as well.

I really look forward to hearing Zack play.


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 06-16-2008).]

Nigel, Zack has lots of stuff on his website. Also, I'll send you a disk or two of some local stuff done at live charity events, recorded with the little Zoom H-2. Jack made an overnight trip from his NY gig to do these. Also heard some of a Stanley Clarke Show from NYC last month that Jack played, but can't share that, for obvioous reasons.

Be looking for "snail mail" here in a week or so.

R.

Russ, what is Zack's website I'd love to have a look at it.

Nigel try http://www.zackbrock.com

Nigel, he has several sites. I never know his address, so I just google him. Ihe one I just found was zackbrock.com. I just google Zack Brock violin.

I'll get the site from his dad later today.


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 06-30-2008).]