Romantic Warrior is one of the best albums ever made. It has everything. Jazz is what musicians at all levels do to entertain each other. The audience comes in a close second. 😎 Jamm out and love everyone.
If I was given the choice to pick one song and one song only to listen to for the rest of my life it would be this live version of The Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant. It has it all.
Al Di Meola is a bloody force of nature. ( No need to address the utter brilliance of all this group's members.) The synchrony among these great musicians is astounding.
Landmark group, will go down in history as one of the most original and groundbreaking acts ever. Every musician ranks among the top players of their instruments, the songs were incredible, and Chick Corea was a composer's composer. Saw them live in the 80's or 90's reunion tour in Santa Barbara, CA. Amazing!
Why did we have to lose Chick? He was like a teacher to me as he was always able to talk about jazz and music in general. I came here now because I love and miss this music. The music is timeless. RIP Chick Corea!
as a young music student at Leeds, England in 1973 I saw this ensemble perform this work. The keyboards gear were different. A Clavinet D6, a MiniMoog model D and the old faithful Fender Rhodes piano alongside a Yamaha organ. I thought, what in God's name is this. 2 hours later I was a fan. I'd seen the original Mahavishnu a year earlier and the writing was clearly on the wall. I've seen Chick many times. Talked to him even, and as one of his band members has said, "Chick is our Beethoven". I have numerous photos of the great man in my collection, but my most treasured possession is the reply in the post I received from him. It is framed, envelope included on my wall next to my pictures of him. He shall never be forgotten. Rest peacefully Armando Chick Corea. You made my life in music so much better.
I've seen Chick with so many different people.Last time I saw him was in New York with Steve Gadd.One of my favorites was a little outdoor 100 seater in Dallas Texas with Gary Burton.That was the 70s.He is missed.Ive also seen him with his wife Gayle Moran.She is a songbird!
@@lahoz6 LOL Not a problem in the studio, but live it's a little annoying to have to stop in the middle of one of his masterpieces so his tech can clean up the mess.I think you need to stick to listening to "Sweet Home Alabama" on your rock radio station.
It's a 30.75" Short Scale Bass, so not quite full size :) but I've always admired his ability to switch between the longest scale of bass (upright) to the one of the shortest with ease.
I never thought a band revisiting their music could ever bring so much more to it 40 years later. I hear all the years of experience blended into it perfectly. Mind blowing!!
Simply one of the greatest tracks ever composed, and performed live that I've ever heard. This piece just continues to build, and build into the most dynamic frenzy. And good heavens...Al Di Meola!!! I was nineteen when I was introduced to these fusion icons back in the late 70s, and I've never quite come back from it. Absolute Bliss!! Thank you for this, and good health to everyone!!
You got that right! I saw a video somewhere where he said he didn’t sweep pick and seemed to frown upon it. I couldn’t understand why he may have felt that way until the other day when I found out that Frank Gambale was playing RTF (Jean L-Ponty too). Maybe that’s why..
@@daledykes9253 with Al, he sticks to staccato deliberately and says hammer-ons and pull-offs are a "short cut" and frowns on it. To me, that's like throwing out half of the colors and brushes in your paint set. Being a strict doctrinarian can limit you.
The original 1976 album “Romantic Warrior” in which this song was featured, actually reached #35 on the “Billboard 200” album chart! Think about it... This album was “top 40”!!
Because we lived in a far more cultured and educated country back then. And what I mean by that, is no, not everyone out there had a PHD, but the average person could appreciate real music made by human beings, and knew the great legacy of each form of music, and knew the names of a dozen or more jazz musicians off the top of their head, and perhaps had become a fan of Dune by reading the book rather than the movie, etc etc. It was a more engaged world back then. Not perfect. There were still horrible problems in this world. But people had more genuine connections with their neighbors, their city, their world.
Angus Orvid So very true. I had dinner with a composer the other night and all we did was talk about the wonderful music that existed just a few decades ago and this is a perfect example of it. You have to dig deep to hear this music now. You can find it but you got a dig
Also Herbie Hancock's 1973 Headhunters album got to #13 in the billboard top 100, and was the largest selling "jazz" album of all time for several years (tho it was more funk based, there is tons of solid fusion in it too, funk fusion if you will). It has 4 very long songs, so they really stretch out, check it out if you havent already
RTF. An amazing collaboration by any measure. I was bummed to hear it when Chick died. Now I realize how much more these people all mean to my life. A lot. These people are exceptional. So many folks today just don't and won't get it. Bon voyage Chick. Good return to forever.
Romantic Warrior and Heavy Weather were the LP`s to have back in 77`. Arguably the swan song of both bands and so different, but inspiring non the less. I never a competitive thing between RTF and WR. Just listened in amazement and definite enjoyment. Here is one of those reasons 30 years later and IMHO they play it better here.
Wow-What to give to have been there! In 74/75 after release, I was fortunate enough to see this line up perform the album "Where Have I known You Before" in Chicago. It was my first concert and went with my eldest brother and his crew. They performed it exactly as the album sounded-It was amazing. These guys are absolute monsters on their instruments...RIP Chick
This album ,this song ,this line up Chick Al Stanley Lenny so damm friggin great. Since his passing I’ve must have played this album (Yes album vinyl) fifteen times. Driving my wife nuts.
J'ai entendu ce morceau pour la première fois lors de sa sortie en 1976. J'étais resté scotché. Je le réentends aujourd'hui, 43 ans plus tard, dans cette version Live in Montreux. Je suis toujours scotché !
Lenny really drives this song home He is banging away and keeps her moving. Beautiful job by all. RIP Chick. I adore your music. I wish I had not fallen asleep at intermission from being stupid when I saw RTF live at the IU Auditorium in Bloomington in 1977. My really bad. :(
RIP Chick Corea. My music world was changed completely by your music. And while I've been to many, MANY concerts in my time, there was NONE more fulfilling than seeing and hearing Return to Forever on their reunion tour in 2007.
I'm so grateful that I can say that I know the feeling. I thought I had missed my chance to see RTF in concert. Instead, I got to see by far the most stunning musicianship I've ever seen in concert. These four aren't musicians - they are freakin' Jedi, and as incredible as the parts are, the sum of the parts is pure magic.
Met Chick & Gayle in Vegas after a Blue Note show. Absolutely wonderful guy & fantastically sparkling woman. So welcoming & down to earth. Miss you both. Chick...RIP. ❤️🎶
THE POWER OF FREEDOM....AND THE FREEDOM OF POWER!!!! RELEASE DA BEAST!!! This peice and Boogie Woogie Waltz by Weather Report, changed the minds of many milk toast musicians!!! A WHOLE NOTHER ANIMAL!!!
This goes along so smoothly. Then halfway through it gets real intense. Seeing the smiles on their faces you know they realize how amazing what they are creating is. This Return To Forever lineup was always my favorite. Not sure Lenny White ever got his do. He plays so intensely yet effortlessly and complements the music so well.
+DrummerDanVa Lenny does a really funny imitation of Joe Zawinul in the Jaco documentary. It's quite humorous. Joe and Jaco = huge egos. Both bands great sounds though. The John, Al, and Paco guitar playing is magnificent too, those are great albums.
In total , separately & as return to forever Ive seen these guys maybe 15 times, This song at the Fillmore in Miami 2008 is one I will never forget. I was the encore & I got to shake Als hand afterwards.
My God, Al DiMeola is still as fast and precise on the guitar as ever. Always said he played like his hands went up and down on railroads tracks. This is truly amazing.
This is one of the bands that made my musical experience and appreciation what it is today. As a teenager I saw them perform this entire album at Ebetts (sp?) Field in Denver CO in the early 70's. I also saw Gentle Giant there; another legendary prog band. And it is because of bands like this that my ear today can hear the beauty of one of the best modern progressive bands today - Jinjer, who I saw last year (preCOVID) and was blown away. Music like this and these other brilliant musicians and performers keeps me going after all these years, and no matter what's going on. Amen.
6:50 is where it goes out to lunch and the tears are swelling up. Stanley and Al grinning as Lenny doubles up and Chick takes the two handed Synth solo. The good old days all over again.
Just amazing! Our drummer and me from our rock band, went to see them in L A around '76 to see themdo this album. We were blown away. All 4 all-stars, we dat there with our mouths open in disbelief. Brings a huge smile to you, rip Chick- you are so missed.....
I saw them on this tour at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion near downtown L.A. in 1976, I am still awestruck after all the years. Maybe that was the show you saw. DCP wasn't the usual venue. I grew up in The Valley.
Al is such an incredible guitarist. The passion and confidence in his playing is so strong as well as the energy he gives off to the audience. I also love how he can exert so much power and still remain somewhat "reserved" with his emotions.
I remember listening to this album and wondering how they could ever pull this complex ish off live much more play it thru w/o reading..haha...well here you go!
One of the first Fusion albums I ever had, and this is still one of my favorite songs off that album! Masterpiece isn't a good enough word to describe how amazing this whole album is, even today!! This is THE example I'd use to show the noobs today what real musical talent really consists of! God I love this music!
All the great bands sound just as good or better live. That is certainly the case with these four Maestros. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform in their prime in the mid '70s on two occasions....
This song swings in the most beautiful way. These men are the champions of harmony and grace and timing in the jazz fusion genre. I have watched this video and listened to it approximately 50 times and it has made me a better player.
Bought this album at Naval Air Station Moffett Fld Calif---literally getting off of the plane summer 1976. Yes the Navy Exchange on the base had a selection this wide as did record outlets did in those days. I will add one more thing---Al's solo on "Jester" (recorded version) STILL affects me the way it did way back then!!!
These guys are something something else, it's just ridiculous. The 'duel' is so genius, I swear I could write an 100 page paper about these 13 minutes. Just look at how the piano is slightly off from 4:23-4:33. Just to challenge them, fool them, play with them and look at their faces reacting. This whole thing is pure class from minute 1.
Amazing. I saw these four musicians in Charlotte, NC's Ovens Auditorium in, I think 1975 or could have been 1974. This song was their encore piece at the end of the show. RTF changed the way i listened to music until i began to listen to Allan Holdsworth in the next few years. This group will always be special to me. I remember how excited i was to see them back then. They are sounding better now then ever!
Let’s state that this was a succesful reunion. They sounded fresh again. Original is original after all. The other great fusion bands have not managed to reunite because of either personal or more serious reasons. However, I think every style and period has its meaning and charm!
It was 1975 when I first heard this song.. still picking my jaw of the floor Thank you Ricky Scarpina and Danny Failing for introducing this music to me.. JM
love the way Al's guitar goes from bright clean at 2:00 to full saturated tone after a few bars. very subtle but effective use of the dynamic of a Les Paul.
