RTF---Getting Reflective

[The Blues Blogger]

Looking forward to this summer as Return to Forever Reunite. Lots of great memories that should come back to mind. Transferred this to MP3 from the original vinyl album. Sounds great!

This is going to be one cool gig ... Anybody have any views on this reunion?

The Blues Blogger

[Bill Barton]

Snooooooooze...

[gonzo]

will be at at least one show for sure. looking very much forward to the tour.

[Ron Thorne]

Yeah, I really dug RTF on this debut recording, though they won't be replicating this one anytime soon.

[BFrank]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Yeah, I really dug RTF on this debut recording, though they won't be replicating this one anytime soon.

Yep. That's the RTF I would be interested in seeing, with someone like George Coleman on tenor.

[Ron Thorne]

Good call, Brooks.

[Gary Sisco]

I like the first two and still own them, but after that -- no, thanks.

[groover]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Yep. That's the RTF I would be interested in seeing, with someone like George Coleman on tenor.

Yes, when I first heard about the "original" RTF re-union, my first thought was "but Joe Farrell is dead!"

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Speaking of Joe Farrell, there's a cut on a McLaughlin retrospective from Joe's Quartet LP that I'm crazy about. Unfortunately, it's impossible to find (one cat is trying to sell a copy of his LP for about 100 + dollars on Amazon).

I can't believe that with the tons of re-releases its unavailable.

As for the reunion, I'd like to check it out. RTF wasn't my favorite fusion group back then. Over time their songs got too cutesy, too ornate. I generally have that problem with Chick Corea.

[clinthopson]

Booooring!

[BFrank]

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

Speaking of Joe Farrell, there's a cut on a McLaughlin retrospective from Joe's Quartet LP that I'm crazy about. Unfortunately, it's impossible to find (one cat is trying to sell a copy of his LP for about 100 + dollars on Amazon).

I can't believe that with the tons of re-releases its unavailable.

As for the reunion, I'd like to check it out. RTF wasn't my favorite fusion group back then. Over time their songs got too cutesy, too ornate. I generally have that problem with Chick Corea.

Is that tune "Follow Your Heart"? If so, there's another version of it on McLaughlin's "Extrapolation", but it's called "Argen's Bag". I didn't realize that the "Quartet" album was that hard to find, either.

As for fusion-era RTF, "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" (w/Bill Connors) wasn't bad, but after that, as Clint said, "booooooring" (or should it be "borrrrrrring"?).

[Dan G]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Is that tune "Follow Your Heart"? If so, there's another version of it on McLaughlin's "Extrapolation", but it's called "Argen's Bag". I didn't realize that the "Quartet" album was that hard to find, either.

As for fusion-era RTF, "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" (w/Bill Connors) wasn't bad, but after that, as Clint said, "booooooring" (or should it be "borrrrrrring"?).

It's actually Arjen's Bag, for Dutch bassist Arjen Gorter. But there were mis-spellings/misprints on various issues (maybe all issues, but it is mentioned in the notes or some interview or somewhere...)

As for the difference between boooooring and borrrrrring, maybe Clint was implying the were being boors. People pretty much turn any word into a verb these days.

[Chris D]

I'd dig it. "Where Have I Known You Before" is majestic in its way.

[BFrank]

Yeah, I was never sure of the spelling. If I remember correctly, it was spelled differently on both the cover and label of the LP. I think there was an "Arten's Bag", too.

Interestingly enough, AMG has "Arjen's Bag (Folow Your Heart)". Mis-spelling of "Follow" included).

[Dan G]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Yeah, I was never sure of the spelling. If I remember correctly, it was spelled differently on both the cover and label of the LP. I think there was an "Arten's Bag", too.

Interestingly enough, AMG has "Arjen's Bag (Folow Your Heart)". Mis-spelling of "Follow" included).

Given the quality control at AMG, the correct spelling of Arjen was probably a mistake too.

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Is that tune "Follow Your Heart"? If so, there's another version of it on McLaughlin's "Extrapolation", but it's called "Argen's Bag". I didn't realize that the "Quartet" album was that hard to find, either.

As for fusion-era RTF, "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" (w/Bill Connors) wasn't bad, but after that, as Clint said, "booooooring" (or should it be "borrrrrrring"?).

Yeah, it's "Follow Your Heart" on one of the Farrell CTI albums....I can never keep them straight....as for RTF, "Where Have I known...." is their weakest album by far in my opinion. For the electric band, have to go with "No Mystery" or "Hymn....". I'd like to see the original band reform with somebody like George Garzone .....

bigtiny

[Gentle Giant]

They reunited in 82 or 83, after they contributed a track to Chick's underrated Touchstone album (which also features Paco deLucia and Lee Konitz). I saw them and while I'm a very big fan of that lineup, it really was just 90 minutes of solos. They probably played only 4 or 5 tunes during that time, it was all just lightning fast jamming all around. Impressive, but didn't leave a lasting impression. Still, I'd rather see RTF than the Elektric Band.

Chick is someone I love dearly, but I often wish he'd let me choose his projects for him. Like, if he wants to reunite with a past group, why not the Three Quartets lineup (again, maybe with George Coleman in place of Brecker)?

[craigz]

Hey, it could be worse. Chick could be reuniting the band with Gayle Moran.

Now, if Circle would get back together, I'd be interested.

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by craigz

Hey, it could be worse. Chick could be reuniting the band with Gayle Moran.

Oh God, her caterwauling version of Come Rain or Come Shine on the '77 RTF live set is beyond unlistenable.

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by craigz

Hey, it could be worse. Chick could be reuniting the band with Gayle Moran.

Now, if Circle would get back together, I'd be interested.

I'm with you hear....I'd LOVE to hear that!

bigtiny

[cookie]

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Oh God, her caterwauling version of Come Rain or Come Shine on the '77 RTF live set is beyond unlistenable.

I don't remember it being that way at all. I remember liking it and thinking that it was a cool thing to be able to *sing* jazz! In fact, that was my first encounter with that tune (and one of my first with jazz singing in general) because RTF Live was one of the first two jazz records I owned --my aunt bought it for me for Christmas 1979. The other record was Circle. Right from the get-go I learned that "jazz" apparently has room for remarkably different types of music within it.

Will go see RTF reunion if I can swing it. Without them, I may never have discovered Louis Armstrong.

[craigz]

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Oh God, her caterwauling version of Come Rain or Come Shine on the '77 RTF live set is beyond unlistenable.

And, for the ultimate in hubris, they recorded their own Mellotron tapes, USING HER VOICE!

[Meatman]

RTF was a musical group where the whole was less than the sum of its parts.

[gonzo]

isn't gayle his wife??!! i'd hate to have my wife picked on by y'all.

[kedoane]

Originally Posted by gonzo

isn't gayle his wife??!! i'd hate to have my wife picked on by y'all.

Yes, Gayle is Chick's wife.

[BFrank]

Originally Posted by kedoane

Yes, Gayle is Chick's wife.

Chick's chick?

[HenryMc]

Man RTF. Takes me back to when I could still fit into satin pants and a blouson jacket and not look ridiculous (okay I did look ridiculous but thought i didnt). A time when you could get high at concerts just by breathing in second hand smoke!! And the music, Man this was none of your commercial shit ya dig, this was music man. These guys were 'musicians' maaaaaan.

Okay so was it any good? A bit like the curate's egg really. Some we will love after all those years and some we will hate. To me, most of it was ruined by that 70's production and sound values. A lot of that simply hasnt stood up well.

RTF ...man that takes me back......Nurse can I have another cocoa and oh another pillow ...im going too sleep now.

[Chaz Longue]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Is that tune "Follow Your Heart"? If so, there's another version of it on McLaughlin's "Extrapolation", but it's called "Argen's Bag". I didn't realize that the "Quartet" album was that hard to find, either.

As for fusion-era RTF, "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" (w/Bill Connors) wasn't bad, but after that, as Clint said, "booooooring" (or should it be "borrrrrrring"?).

I believe there's a version of Follow Your Heart on My Goal's Beyond, an early favorite of mine from John Mclaughlin's catalogue.

David B.

[Gentle Giant]

Vulcan Worlds, 1974

[Lois Gilbert]

Where the heck is the Return to Forever thread. This is the most exciting news I've heard in a long time.


LEGENDARY SUPERGROUP RETURN TO FOREVER ANNOUNCE SUMMER 2008 TOUR DATES

Historic Tour Includes North American and European Concert Halls and Festivals

Return to Forever's classic lineup of keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al Di Meola and drummer Lenny White have announced a tour that will represent their first extensive engagements together in 30 years.

The foursome will play more than 50 dates across North America and Europe, featuring primarily classic music from their chart-topping albums. Beginning in Austin, Texas, on May 29th, the legendary supergroup will swing across the U.S. and Canada in June, cross the Atlantic for July dates in Europe from Lithuania to London, then return to the States for an East Coast run of major venues.

Fans should check their local venues for ticket on-sale information or visit www.return2forever.com for the latest information and unique VIP fan experience ticket packages.

The tour includes top outdoor festivals such as the Montreux Festival, the Montreal International Festival, Spain's San Sebastian festival, France's Nice Festival and the Freihofer's Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY, as well as theaters and concert halls chosen to showcase what LA Times critic Don Heckman calls Return to Forever's "rich improvisational symbiosis."

"What made me want to do it," Corea told the Times, "was just recalling how great the feeling was playing with these guys. Just the experience of playing, when I thought, 'Wow, yeah, that was an amazing period -- fun, creative, exciting.'"

Heckman, who attended the band's first rehearsal, said the group is now "bringing a 21st century perspective to the visceral blend of rock energy with the improvisation and compositional structures of jazz that made the quartet a phenomenon of the '70s."

Original Return to Forever fans and a new generation of listeners can experience their unparalleled high-powered, yet grooving, musical mastery themselves this summer. Tour dates are below.

A special Return to Forever anthology, compiled from the classic albums 'Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy', 'Where Have I Known You Before', 'No Mystery' and 'Romantic Warrior' and featuring dramatic sonic improvements, will also be released to coincide with the tour. This definitive collection, which was produced by founding RTF members Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke, is the first to include music from all these albums in one double-CD package.

Find out more about Return To Forever and additional tour dates at http://www.return2forever.com.

Tour Dates
(Note: Fans should check with their local venues for ticket on-sale dates.)

May
29-30 (Thu-Fri) Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre
31 (Sat) Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Center

June
1 (Sun) Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater at Grand Prairie
3 (Tue) Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
4 (Wed) Salt Lake City, UT - Kingsbury Hall
6 (Fri) Portland, OR - Schnitzer Concert Hall
7 (Sat) Medford, OR - Britt Music Festival
8 (Sun) Seattle, WA - The Paramount
9 (Mon) Vancouver, BC - The Centre in Vancouver For Performing Arts
11-12 (Wed-Thu) San Francisco, CA - The Grand At The Regency Center (2 shows/night)
13 (Fri) Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
14 (Sat) Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
17 (Tue) St Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
18 (Wed) Omaha, NE - Holland Performing Arts Center
19 (Thu) Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
20 (Fri) Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre
21 (Sat) Detroit, MI - Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
22 (Sun) Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
24 (Tue) Cleveland, OH - The Plain Dealer Pavilion
25 (Wed) Toronto, Canada - Sony Centre
26 (Thu) Ottawa, Canada - Ottawa Jazz Festival/Confederation Park
27 (Fri) Montreal, Canada - Pelletier Hall/Place Des Arts
28 (Sat) Saratoga Springs, NY - Freihofer's Jazz Festival

July
2 (Wed) Vilnius, Lithuania - Utenos Arena
4 (Fri) Warsaw, Poland - Congress Hall
5 (Sat) Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Arena
6 (Sun) Belgrade, Serbia - Belgrade Arena
8 (Tue) Paris, France - Olympia Hall
9 (Wed) Vienne, France - Vienne Jazz Festival 10 (Thu) Madrid, Spain - Via Jazz Festival
11 (Fri) Girona, Spain - Cap Roig Festival
12 (Sat) Lorca, Spain
13 (Sun) Valencia, Spain
16 (Wed) Neuhardenberg, Germany
18 (Fri) Montreux, Switzerland - Montreux Jazz Festival
19 (Sat) Essen, Germany - Grugahalle
21 (Mon) London, England - Indigo2
23 (Wed) Nice, France - Nice Jazz Festival
25 (Fri) San Sebastian, Spain
30 (Wed) Miami, FL - The Fillmore Miami Beach
31 (Thu) Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall

August
1 (Fri) Orlando, FL - House Of Blues
2 (Sat) Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
4 (Mon) Baltimore, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
5 (Tue) Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center For The Performing Arts - w/ Béla Fleck and The Flecktones
6 (Wed) Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion - w/ Béla Fleck and The Flecktones
7 (Thu) New York, NY - United Palace