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Extrait de ALIVE
(1991), avec: Chick COREA
(piano), John PATITUCCI (doublebass) and Dave
WECKL (drums).
Biographies:
Chick COREA:
''b. Armando Anthony Corea, 12 June 1941,
Chelsea, Massachusetts, USA. After a very musical home environment,
pianist Corea's first notable professional engagements were
in the Latin bands of Mongo Santamar'a and Willie Bobo (1962-63),
playing a style of music that continues to influence him
today. Joining Blue Mitchell 's band in 1964, he spent two
years with the trumpeter, and had a chance to record some
of his own compositions for Blue Note Records. Corea's first
recordings appeared in 1966 with Tones For Joan's Bones,
and show a pianist influenced mainly by hard-bop. In 1968,
he joined Miles Davis for the trumpeter's first real experiments
with fusion. Playing on some of Davis' most important albums,
Corea's electric piano became integral to the new sound.
Leaving Davis in 1970 to explore free music within an acoustic
setting, he formed Circle with Dave Holland, Barry Altschul,
and later Anthony Braxton. Although Circle lasted only a
year, it managed to make some important recordings before
Corea, now involved in Scientology, became interested in
a style with more widespread appeal. Forming the first of
three bands called Return To Forever in 1971, he played
a Latin-influenced fusion featuring the vocalist Flora Purim
and percussionist Airto Moreiro, before he changed the band's
line-up to produce a more rock-orientated sound in the mid-70s.
The final Return To Forever hinted at classical music with
string and brass groups, but disbanded in 1980 after only
moderate success. After playing with numerous top musicians
in the early 80s (including Herbie Hancock and Michael Brecker
), since 1985 he has concentrated on his Akoustic and Elektric
Bands and now records for GRP Records. Joined by John Patitucci
(bass) and Dave Weckl (drums), he is presently involved
in a music that challenges the extremes of virtuosity, mixing
passages of complex arrangement with solos in the fusion
style.''
John PATITUCCI:
''b. 22 December 1959, Brooklyn, New York,
USA. Patitucci is a technically gifted bassist best known
for his work on both the electric and acoustic instruments
for fusion keyboard legend Chick Corea. After playing some
pop and rock in his brother's band in New York, he moved
with his family to America's west coast, the home of a fearsome
tradition for jazz/rock fusion virtuosi, in 1972, and was
introduced to the jazz tradition by bass teacher Chris Poehler.
Studying the acoustic work of Ron Carter, Dave Holland,
Charlie Haden and Eddie Gomez, and the electric bass techniques
of Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke and, particularly,
bass hero Jaco Pastorius, he developed quickly, working
with pianist Gap Mangione (brother of Chuck Mangione ),
and veteran British-born vibesman Victor Feldman. It was
with Feldman that Chick Corea came across him, and asked
him to join the newly formed Elektric Band. Patitucci stayed
with the Elektric Band throughout its life, recording five
albums, and played an important part in the Akoustic Band
trio. Since the late 80s he has also been working as a leader
on GRP Records and Stretch - Corea's own subsidiary of the
GRP label. An incredible technician on both acoustic and
six-string electric basses, Patitucci has unfortunately
allowed his output to be dominated by material that works
primarily as a means to demonstrate his technique. One of
his best records is Sketchbook, featuring drummer Peter
Erskine, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker and guitarist
John Scofield.''
Dave WECKL:
''b. 8 January 1960, St Louis, Missouri,
USA. A technically advanced fusion drummer who specialises
in applying jazz's rhythmic complexity to the aggressive
sound of the rock kit, Weckl rose to prominence as Chick
Corea 's fearless drummer, hidden behind a huge, towering
kit in the popular Elektric Band. The son of an amateur
pianist, Weckl was turned onto the drums by (strangely)
jazz big band drummer Buddy Rich, eventually studying jazz
at the University of Bridgeport Connecticut. His first gigging
experience was with the successful fusion outfit Nitesprite,
and he soon dropped out of college to take advantage of
the opportunities to gig and tour abroad. He impressed leading
fusion drummer Peter Erskine, who helped spread the young
musician's name further, and Weckl soon found himself busy
in the fusion scene and in the studio, recording lucrative
dates for Diana Ross, George Benson, Madonna and Robert
Plant. He joined keyboardist Chick Corea in the mid-80s,
forming a third of the fast-moving, virtuoso rhythm section
with bassist John Patitucci that in its seven years came
to represent Corea's 80s style. Since the group's disbandment,
Weckl has concentrated on his own career, recording as a
leader for GRP Records in the early 90s, and powering the
All-Star GRP Big Band live and on record. More recently
he has led his own band, which includes Tommy Kennedy (bass),
Jay Oliver (keyboards), Steve Weingart (keyboards), Buzz
Feiten (guitar), and Brandon Fields (saxophone), on recordings
for the Stretch label.''
(sources: http://music.yahoo.com)
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