Search - Chick Corea :: Beneath the Mask

"This one put the 'electric' back into the Elektric Band"

Daniel S. Sullivan | Gibbstown,N.J. USA | 05/14/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Beneath The Mask" would be the last album that the "classic" Elektric Band would record for 12 years, and after their previous 2 outings featured Chick on a grand piano, he obtained an electric midi-Rhodes piano and the amazing Yamaha SY-99 synthesizer,and as a result,the album was punchier, funkier and more direct-to-the-point than their previous two outings "Eye Of The Beholder" and "Inside Out".



As usual, one band member was featured on the lion's share of the cuts. Electric guitar was a large focus on this collection, so Frank Gambale came to the fore, contributing excellent solos on "Little Things That Count", "Lifescape", "Free Step", an acoustic contribution on "A Wave Goodbye", as well as part of the trade-offs on "Illusions".



His finest moment, however, is one of the CCEB's greatest accomplishments as a combo, "Charged Particles". The band was amazingly tight, the tempo changes and shifts handled beautifully, and it all sets up a Gambale showcase, where he combines alternate picking along with his classic "sweep style" for 5 minutes and change of sheer fusion bliss.



Eric Marienthal found a new voice as well, opting for soprano sax as opposed to his normal alto, the title track, "One Of Us Is Over 40", "Jammin' E. Cricket" and "Illusions" all benefit from this stylistic change.



John Patitucci holds the bottom end on bass and "Jammin" E. Cricket" shows what he can do.



Dave Weckl's drumming, as always is superlative and energetic.



Chick himself was obviously having a lot of fun, best showcased on "99 Flavors" which he composed as a sample tune for Yamaha's SY-99 keyboard before recording it with the group.



Though they would not reunite until 2004's "To The Stars" (see my review for it), they finished this phase with a bang. 5 stars."

This Is One Bad, Funky Album!

Claudette Vasquez | 09/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is no joke! I have been listening to this album since I was like 3 years old. Since then I have come to realize that these guys are way bad. They know their stuff and once again prove to be the best virtuosos in the music business. This music may be viewed as cheesy or too commercialized, but really who cares. The virtuosity that these guys display is amazing, and the music is so darn funky. If only music was still produced like this nowadays. Take the track "Jammin E. Cricket" for example. Now that is one funky tune. Pair that up with "99 Flavors" and you've got yourself a winner. Chick nows how to flaunt his stuff and he knows how to let his guys show off too. Frank Gambale gets some good guitar work in the super fusiony tune "Charged Particles", plus he gets some funky work done in my favorite song "Jammin E. Cricket". This is one great album, and I'd totally recommend that you buy it. If your new to jazz, buy it! If you like funky music, buy it! Heck I'd buy it just for "Jammin E. Cricket"! Great Album!!!! Get it!!!"