[Kronomyth 49.0]
Iconaklassics.
Now that the Akoustic (nee Elektric) Band had netted their own Grammy, what to do but take their newfound fame on the road. Alive features more of the same: jazz oldies rendered by a cross-generational trio intent on venerating and vexating the classics simultaneously. As I pointed out in an earlier review for AMG, this approach can be divisive for music listeners. In fact, even the trio seems divided on what they wanted to achieve. In most cases, Corea opens the tune with a thoughtful exposition of the theme, only to have Dave Weckl and John Patitucci come in and noisily upend it. (The experience is not unlike watching puppies at play and lamenting the once-loved, now-chewed objects left in their wake.) Obviously, a lot of people enjoyed this approach; they don’t just give Grammys away, although it seems like that sometimes. But the distance between Corea’s reverence and Weckl’s irreverence is too great a chasm for me to cross comfortably. When Corea is willing to enter to fray, as on the closing “Morning Sprite” (one of two CC originals on here), the trio can really tear things up in a good way. The Elektric albums clearly showed that Corea was able to keep pace as an innovator, but I suspect he’s something of a romantic at heart, and he wears it on his sleeve here, while Weckl and Patitucci might as well be wearing warpaint. Again, you may feel differently, “a new chassis for old classics” and all that, particularly if you enjoyed their earlier Akoustic expedition. The digital recording is exceptionally clean (a GRP hallmark) and the audience intrusion is minimal, so it feels more like a studio album most of the time and thus serves as a fitting bookend to the first Akoustic recording.
The Songs
A1. On Green Dolphin Street (Ned Washington/Bronislaw Kaper) (9:14)
A2. How Deep Is The Ocean? (Irving Berlin) (11:40)
A3. Humpty Dumpty (Chick Corea) (8:51)
A4. Sophisticated Lady (Edward Kennedy Ellington/Irving Mills/Mitchell Parish) (6:59)
A5. U.M.M.G. (Billy Strayhorn) (5:29)
A6. ‘Round Midnight (Cootie Williams/Thelonius Monk) (8:39)
A7. Hackensack (Thelonius Monk) (2:41)
A8. Morning Sprite (Chick Corea) (10:15)
Japanese CD bonus track
9. La Fiesta
The Players
Chick Corea (piano), John Patitucci (upright bass), Dave Weckl (drums). Produced by Chick Corea, engineered by Bernie Kirsh, mixed by Bernie Kirsh and Chick Corea. Executive producers: Dave Grusin & Larry Rosen, executive album producer: Ron Moss.
The Pictures
Graphic design by Dan Serrano, David Gibb, Andy Ruggirello, Scott Johnson and Sonny Mediana. Video still photography by Harrison Funk.
The Plastic
Released on elpee, compact disc and cassette on January 22, 1991 in the US (GRP, GRP/GRD/GRC-9627) and Japan (GRP, MVCR-13); reached #3 on the US Jazz charts. Also released on 24k gold compact disc in 1991 in Japan (GRP, MVCZ-9). All Japanese versions feature the bonus track, “La Fiesta.”
- Re-released on remastered compact disc in 2006 in Japan (GRP, UCCU-9275) with 1 bonus track.
