The Mothership Returns

by Return to Forever

Overview

When guitarist Al DiMeola left Return to Forever (again) after their 2008 reunion tour, Chick Corea solicited the help of the band's original axeman, Bill Connors, to rejoin the band for another tour. He did. While he rehearsed with Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White, health issues forbade him from returning to the road. Corea then enlisted his former Elektric Band guitarist Frank Gambale, as well as guest violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. The 2011 tour, by all fan accounts, blew the doors off the 2008 reunion. Gambale, every bit the technical virtuoso as Di Meola, is the stronger jazz player of the two. And with Ponty's added fireworks, the vintage RTF material took on an entirely new life, as did other pieces performed here. This two-CD/DVD package offers visual as well as audio proof that the fans were correct. While the set opens with a gorgeously played "Medieval Overture" from Romantic Warrior, it then shifts into what is perhaps the most intense version of "Senor Mouse" on record at over 12 minutes. Next up is a medley of White tunes in "The Shadow of Lo/Sorceress," clocking in at nearly 17 minutes While the first part is a largely acoustic piece, it gives way to the band's full slate of jazz chops full-on. Clarke, Gambale, Ponty, and Corea all shine, while White is so ambitious and propulsive, he makes this entire jam sound more like prog rock than fusion. Ponty's 19-plus minute "Renaissance," from 1975's Aurora, is a showcase for his composition. As a soloist, he remains fully committed to the fusion aesthetic and is every bit as technically gifted as he was in the '70s. He's dazzling, as is Clarke, in his swinging pizzicato bass solo. Disc two begins with a burning, free-flowing "After the Cosmic Rain" that heads directly into an extended version of "Romantic Warrior" before shifting gears into a gorgeous medley of composer Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto Aranjuez paired with Corea's "Spain." Things get massively funky on Clarke's "School Days" before heading off into a straight -- and brief -- "Hymn to the Seventh Galaxy" to close it all out. It's a breathtaking 110 minutes. The included DVD contains a documentary called Return to Forever: Inside the Music, concert performances of "After the Cosmic Rain" and "The Romantic Warrior," and a sneak peek trailer for the forthcoming film, The Story of Return to Forever. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/2023
Label:	Ear Music
UPC:	4029759138822
Rank:	83816

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Return to Forever   Primary Artist
Stanley Clarke   Bass,Double Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Librado Barocio   Director
Chick Corea   Piano,Keyboards
Frank Gambale   Guitar
Jean-Luc Ponty   Violin
Lenny White   Drums

Technical Credits

Travis Rogers   Engineer
Stanley Clarke   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Bernie Kirsch   Engineer,Monitor Engineer
Robert Trujillo   Liner Notes
Buck Snow   Mixing
Evelyn Brechtlein   Production Coordination
Brian Alexander   Keyboard Technician
Adam Mason   Editing,Producer
Marc Bessant   Graphic Design
Terry Cooley   Production Manager
Kris Campbell   Tour Manager
Bill Rooney   Management,Executive Producer
Geoff Kempin   Executive Producer
Matt Druzbik   Lighting Director
James "McGoo" McGregor   Stage Technician
Julie Rooney   Graphic Design
Andrew Elliott   Photography
Matt Bizer   Photography
Dan Muse   Liner Note Coordination
Anna Robertson   Production Assistant
Arne B. Rostad   Photography
Devin Villery   Audio Technician
Eric "Stretch" Hanson   Bass Technician
Jim Moran   Drum Technician
Martin Philby   Photography
Rob Griffin   Tour Manager
Tim Cavanaugh   Producer
Paul May   Tour Manager
Terry Shand   Executive Producer
Bernie Kirsh   Engineer,Recording
Chick Corea   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jean-Luc Ponty   Composer,Liner Notes
Lenny White   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Joaquin Rodrigo   Composer
Mick Guzauski   Mixing