Search - Chick Corea :: Converge

Terrible (re)mastering - stay away!

jiveturtle | Champaign, Illinois USA | 07/31/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"To summarize, this is a substandard release of mostly early Chick Corea solo studio work from 1969 involving musicians Woody Shaw, Hubert Laws, Bennie Maupin, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and Horace Arnold. Also included is the "La Fiesta (Piano Solo)" track from the 1978 concert with Lionel Hampton recorded in Cannes, France.The mastering on this CD release is terrible! It sounds as if they might have used LP versions for their masters instead of the original source tapes. Plus, the tracks are mislabeled, which is actually a problem that has plagued the various releases of these particular studio sessions. If you are considering purchasing this, do yourself a favor and instead get the newly remastered "Complete Is Sessions" Blue Note release, now the definitive version of this material.Since the track list is not included above, I have provided it below along with the equivalent material from "Complete Is Sessions" (except where noted):1. Fiesta - "La Fiesta (Piano Solo)" from Chick Corea & Lionel Hampton "Sea Breeze" concert album.2. Converge - "Converge (alt tk)"3. Sundance - "This (alt tk)"4. Waltz For Bill Evans - "Song Of the Wind (alt tk)"5. Vamp - "Sundance (alt tk)"6. Song Of the Wind - "Song Of the Wind"7. The Brain - "The Brain (alt tk)"The first track does not even fit with the rest of the album. The remaining tracks are avant-garde jazz from the late 1960's, which means that the material is loosely organized and experimental. The music is highly improvisatory while remaining interesting, with great interaction among the performers. This style of jazz is an acquired taste, but recommended in order to see where Chick has been and the music he is capable of creating. Just make sure to purchase the right version!"