Rendezvous in New York

Disc 1
1	Armando's Rhumba 4:58
2	Blue Monk 5:34
3	Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain 8:14
4	Matrix 10:47
5	Glass Enclosure/Tempus Fugit 16:10
6	Crystal Silence 10:01
7	Bessie's Blues / Chick Corea's Akoustic Band 8:37
Disc 2
1	Autumn Leaves / Chick Corea's Akoustic Band 11:35
2	Armando's Tango 12:10
3	Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain 13:25
4	Lifeline 12:02
5	Quartet No. 2, Pt. 1 11:42

Barnes & Noble

To celebrate his 60th birthday in 2002, pianist, composer, and bandleader Chick Corea played an engagement at New York’s Blue note jazz club, inviting numerous guests over the course of the week. Corea reconvened some of his most famous alliances, and the triumphant results are captured on this joyous double CD. Among the high points are Corea’s encounters with players he worked with in the 1960s and '70s, including a luminous duet with vibraphonist Gary Burton; the reunion of the Now He Sings, Now He Sobs trio with bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes (“Matrix”); and the Three Quartets band, featuring saxophonist Michael Brecker (“Quartet No. 2. Part 1”). More contemporary units include his Akoustic Band with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl; the New Trio; the Remembering Bud Powell band with Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, and Terence Blanchard; and Corea’s current sextet, Origin. There’s also room for gripping duets with vocalist Bobby McFerrin and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. What this musical love fest puts into perspective is the birthday boy’s immense range as a musician and his incredible adaptability to other players. Judging from the quality of these performances, plenty more volumes drawn from this engagement would be welcome. [This hybrid Super Audio CD will play in standard compact disc players. A Super Audio CD player will be needed to enjoy the full audio spectrum.] Steve Futterman

All Music Guide

One of Chick Corea's most ambitious projects was the recording of almost 60 hours of music with nine different groups over a three-week run at the Blue Note in December 2001; it must have been a challenge to choose the dozen performances for this two-CD set. The first disc begins with scat singer par excellence Bobby McFerrin joining the pianist to scat his way through three selections, including a stunning medley of an excerpt from Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" and Corea's "Spain." Bassist Miroslav Vitous and ageless drummer Roy Haynes provide the pulse to his extended work "Matrix." Corea's well-crafted tribute to Bud Powell, with Terence Blanchard and Joshua Redman in the front line, combines two of Powell's greatest works, "Glass Enclosure" and "Tempus Fugit." But Corea is at his most lyrical when old friend Gary Burton joins him to revisit the pianist's masterpiece, the shimmering "Crystal Silence." The second disc is also full of great music, though disc one clearly gets the edge, with the possible exception of the virtuoso duo piano interpretation with Gonzalo Rubalcaba of the same medley performed with McFerrin on the first CD. It is safe to say that no fan of Chick Corea will be disappointed with this wide-ranging compilation of live music, and it

is also a great starting point for those not familiar with his voluminous works. Highly recommended. Ken Dryden