Return to Forever
Romantic Warrior
Columbia 1976
Al DiMeola - acoustic and electric guitars
Chick Corea - piano, electric piano, synthsizers
Stanley Clarke - bass guitar
Lenny White - drums, percussion
1. Medieval Overture
2. Sorceress
3. Romantic Warrior
4. Majestic Dance
5. The Magician
6. The Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant: parts I and II
Return to Forever, along with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report, was one of the best and one of the most well-known jazz fusion groups of the 70s. Like the other two mentioned above, Return to Forever consisted of several members of Miles Davis's band from the Bitches' Brew era.
The music here is instrumental jazz fusion. The sound is a mixture of progressive rock, classical music, and jazz. It has a very medieval feel to it, as foreshadowed by the album cover and the song titles. The band has massive talent in every position, with each song carrying a display of chops from each member. DiMeola's guitar playing is at a speed that rivals that of neo-classical shredders such as Malmsteen, but his delivery is much more varied and enjoyable. He does it in both clean and distorted tones, and in mostly major keys or modal runs. Corea is on the same level, tearing out brilliant piano runs and a couple of blazing synth solos. Stanley Clarke and Lenny White are a powerful rhythm section, keeping a great beat, rockish in some parts, funky in others, throwing in fills that display their technical ability.
I don't think that there is a bad song on this album. Are songs are impressive and enjoyable, each in their own way. This is one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, jazz fusion album so far.
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