Return to Forever
Return to Forever is an American fusion (also known as jazz-rock) formation that enjoyed great success in the 1970s (1971 to 1977) and reunited in 2008.
The band combines jazz with rock , soul , funk and Latin elements. That is why in the 1970s, along with other groups, it was the logical progression of modern jazz that Miles Davis had initiated in the late 1960s.
history
The 1970s
The keyboardist Chick Corea had already appeared as a member of the innovative band around Miles Davis , which had developed the style of jazz rock in the late 1960s with groundbreaking albums such as Bitches Brew .
In 1972 he released the solo album Return to Forever , which was also the namesake of his new formation (other significant follow-up groups from Miles Davis' environment were John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra and Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter's Weather Report ).
The original line-up of Return to Forever consisted of Corea ( keyboards ), Stanley Clarke ( bass ), Joe Farrell ( flute , saxophone ), Airto Moreira ( drums , percussion ) and his wife Flora Purim (vocals). In this first phase the band was better known for their Latino sound.
After a line-up with Mingo Lewis (percussion), Bill Connors ( guitar ) and Lenny White ( drums ), the band followed the progressive rock and fusion direction. The 1973 album Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy became a great commercial success, as did the following albums Where Have I Known You Before , No Mystery ( Grammy Award winner ) and Romantic Warrior . In 1974 Al Di Meola , then a 19-year-old graduate of the Berklee School of Music , replaced Connors as guitarist.
In 1976 Corea reorganized the group: The band now included his wife Gayle Moran ( keyboards and vocals, previously with the Mahavishnu Orchestra), Joe Farrell, Gerry Brown ( drums ) and an ensemble of brass musicians: John Thomas, James Tinsley ( trumpets ) , Jim Pugh and Harold Garrett ( trombones ). But after the next tour, Corea broke up the band in 1977.
Reunion 2008
In early 2008, the "classic" line-up - Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Al Di Meola - announced a reunion tour of North America and Europe. One of the reasons they cited was the great success of the band's old live videos on the Internet video platform YouTube . In the period from May 29, 2008 to August 8, 2008, the band toured extensively through the United States. Concerts in Europe were given between July 2 and July 25, 2008, with a highlight being the performance at the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival on July 19, 2008. In Germany three concerts took place on July 16 in Neuhardenberg , on July 18 in the Grugahalle in Essen and on July 20 on the Museum Mile in Bonn .
Remodeling 2011
The group was called Return to Forever IV . Al Di Meola was replaced by Frank Gambale . Then there was Jean-Luc Ponty , who brought the piece Renaissance into the repertoire. An extensive tour led through the United States and Europe.
Discography
- Return to Forever (1972)
- Light as a Feather (1973)
- Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973)
- Where Have I Known You Before (1974)
- No Mystery (1975)
- Romantic Warrior (1976)
- Music Magic (1977)
- Return to Forever: Live (1977)
- The Anthology (2008)
- The Mothership Returns (2012)