Search - Chick Corea Elektric Band: Live at Montreux 2004 on DVD

Elektric Band's Best!/Priceless Performance

Jeff Arenson | Colorado Springs, CO United States | 10/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chick Corea has been the most important Jazz Musician since Miles Davis, and this DVD shows that he still is just that. Joining Chick are all 4 original members of the Elektric Band. Each memeber of the Elektric band is quite possibly the best performer at his instrument. Eric Marienthal is a great sax player and performs at a top level during this whole set. John Patitucci is an amazing bass player. His standard fingering bass technique is nothing short of greatness; His phrasing and playing on this show that. Dave Weckl is one of the best drummers on the planet and has been for decades. His playing on this DVD is a must hear for drummers. He has taken his virtuosity to a new level. Frank Gambale is one of the best Fusion guitarists alive. His sweep picking technique has been a major influence on guitarists since the mid 1980's and he is spellbinding to hear. Together, they are the most talented group of musicians touring together on the planet. I have never seen a better band.(Some on the same level, but none better) During the 80's/90s this group recorded 4 great Cds together and I saw all of those tours. The decade between those cds and "To The Stars" didn't do anything to their compositions, telepathic interplay, virtuosity or live performance. This DVD captures the band at their most incredible state yet.The DVD is quality with good camera work and sound. The performance totals over 2 1/2 hours!

The concert is in two parts. The first part is a live version of the "Two The Stars" CD. Like all other CCEB tours, the music is taken to greater heights. The band improvises greatly and on "Check Blast", "Mistress Luck", and "The Long Passage" the band takes turns amazing the audience and each other. All members of the band applaud for each other and Chick has a smile that shows he knows that something special happens when he is playing with these guys. They even do an extended acoustic version of "Alan Corday" which is amazing. I found "To The Stars" to be a good but not great Corea effort. This version is as amazing as anything that they have ever done. The band then takes a break.

As great as the first part of the concert is, the second part is unreal. The band performs music from their 80's/90's tours. "CTA" is a Jimmy Heath song that the CCEB have been covering for years and have played during these last reunion tours nightly. This song is unbelievable. Each member of the band takes a solo spot. It is during this set that Dave Weckl takes his drumming to a new level. "Eternal Child" is from the "Eye of the Beholder" Cd. Once again, the band takes a compostion that I found to be good on Cd and make it great live. The whole band improvises again, and Gambale, Patitucci, and Marienthal are all incredible. ("Not shabby" in the words of Corea) 'Got A Match?' has always been a concert favorite and this version is awe inspiring. Chick starts out by trading be-bop lines with the audience. Then a great be-bop/jazz incluenced melody is played and improvised over. The whole band's virtuosity is taken to new levels. Most notable is John Patitucci's bass work. He never stops his "walking" bass and his solo is incredible. I am glad that Chick was able to get him for this gig. Chick, Marienthal and Gambale all add their own solos and then Chick trades fours with Dave Weckl. There has always been a special level of interplay between these two. They team up, yet again, to inspire each other and the audience. There is a flurry of unison lines by all and then the song ends. This tune is JAZZ fusion and an acoustic version would be amazing. All of Chick's years studying be-bop and jazz come out on this masterpiece. The DVD price is paid in full by this song alone. The first encore is "Spain". "Spain" has been a Corea concert staple for decades. The intro, based on the adagio movement from the "concierto de aranjuez"(Rodrigo), is improvised by both Corea and Patitucci. There are definite classical overtones during this part of the song. During the actual song, Marienthal and Gambale provide solos that are short, well phrased and virtuostic. Weckl closes it out with his typical brilliance. "Blue Miles" is the closer and the band shows some bluesy influences in the main theme. All performers do their thing again and then the show is over.

To sum it up; This is the DVD that Fusion fans have been dreaming of and is now a reality. You will never buy a better Jazz/Rock/Fusion DVD based on Talent of the band. If you are a fan of any of these 5, then you'll want this immediately. As individuals, each member is an absolute revelation on his instrument and as a group this is a truly timeless perfomance. Buy it now."

Top-Notch All The Way!

Russ Bellinger | Bradenton, Florida USA | 11/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to recommend this DVD to everyone who is a fan of jazz and jazz-rock-fusion. This is absolutely awesome! These guys play with incredible fluidity. Watching them work together and create those beautiful atmospheres and furious burning tempos with complex time signatures is hard to describe! But few do it better than the CC's Electric Band. These guys are the best of the best. This is top-notch all the way! Very, very recommended."

2004; live at montreux-chick corea elektric band

Ray E. D'amico | Maple Hts.,Ohio | 03/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember watching Chick Corea perform years ago on public-
TV. I believe at that time, with Return to Forever. Well,here
he is, 30 years later, & just as brilliant and innovative as
ever.For anyone with an ear for jazz variations on keyboard, I
highly recommend this DVD. Not only is this outstanding, but
you also get well over 2 hours of LIVE performance!! And all of
the original members of the Elektric Band are reunited for this
show. Very 'tight' & very right. 5*++"

One of the best DVD Concerts ever

TRFB | 02/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what that guy is talking about misaligned video with the audio, but what I saw was perfect. He must've watched it on a PC DVD player and that tends to lose synchronicity. But, enough about that. The concert was all that I hope to have from the Electric Band. This was way more than adaquate. The performances given by each musician was nothing but unselfish love and devotion to the fans. No, and I mean NO punches were pulled in their performances. The endurance that Dave Weckl has to play using such a physical instrument (Drums) is a testimant to his flawless abilities as a drummer. I know him personally and I know that he suffers from a injured left shoulder and to play like he does, you'd never know it!!!!

I'm very happy to have this in my collection. I felt the drums could've come up a little more in the mix because at times the keyboards and synth were too loud and overshadowed the rest of the group. But other than that, it was such a delight to watch and enjoy these guys. I highly recommend this concert if you are a true fan of Chick and the band."