Return To Forever - Live 1973

[@tonyv47]

lenny fuckin white , one of the best jazz fusion drummers in the world, period !!

[@chrisbarany]

He is so badass. Love him so much.

[@thebandthatisDAVE]

One of the reasons I became a professional drummer!

[@JulieCarey-y1n]

@@thebandthatisDAVE…the drumming in…Mating Drive…and the close-out powerhouse drum solo…what a wipeout

[@TheTayedrums]

LENNY IS BAD AND FUNKY....SAW HIM WITH HIS BAND AND STANLEY WITH HIS BAND IN ASTRAL PIRATES AND SCHOOL DAYS...

[@openreels]

Wow, pure 70s gold! The track suits, afros, and Chick's vintage Fender Rhodes. I have one just like it. They look so young. Hell they WERE so young! And had so much to say over the decades.

[@WilliamSmith-hz2jl]

Truly Bill Conners made this band historical I love Al and saw him live in Japan but Bill had something special with this band in 1973 🤘🏽😎💯

[@mjt5576]

Bill was a beast!

[@enriqueoyola528]

Bill Connors simply the best.

[@jacobheaney3836]

My favourite band of all time along with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[@tfurbee]

this is my favorite RTF line up. Bill Connors is a monster

[@randyeno]

I'm amazed that too many people don't know how much of a drummer we have in Mr Lenny White. "Peanut butter can't be beat." 🎶

[@Barrelsmoke]

Lenny was the shit, he and Billy Colbham

[@RaulMacias-o9o]

In my opinion, Bill Connors is the greatest exponent of Jazz/Rock Guitar! Bill Connors' phrasing is otherworldly!

[@sciencedaemon]

You are kidding, right? That title clearly belongs to Holdsworth.

[@mjt5576]

No doubt. Bill was phenomenal.

[@patrickcollins9091]

Bill was one of my first and best guitar teachers, I remember he was reading a biography of stravinsky's at the time, twas the late 70s, still a blessing to hear him!

[@RaulMacias-o9o]

Quote by BILL CONNORS ~ "I wanted to sound like Eric Clapton playing [John] Colttane."

[@muonani]

Bill Connors, subtle beauty with great sound. And Lenny White!

[@RaulMacias-o9o]

Bill Connors left not long after this taping in April, 1974. Initially, Connors was replaced by Earl Klugh for one American tour in 1974.

[@NicleT]

Incredible work of Stanley Clarke, solid as always.

[@RaulMacias-o9o]

Quote by BILL CONNORS ~ "I don't have a huge ego, but it still hurt when people would tell me that I must've listened to a lot of Al DiMeola."

[@sciencedaemon]

Weird because some years later he sounded like Holdsworth.

[@blackarrow9072]

@@sciencedaemonAssembler? Something Di Meola could never do. He played like a robot. Till date.

[@sciencedaemon]

@@blackarrow9072 when he changed his sound in the early 80s it was Holdsworth, who had been developing his sound going back a decade. Connors definitely just took what was around and repeated it. Not sure why he would be upset at people having the perception to notice. Di Meola plays staccato, did that before Holdsworth's sound caught on. It's a style, like it or not.

[@bassmickeyd]

Bill Connors is brilliant here.

[@claudiofernandes9834]

There was a 30+ performance which this video is a feature from. It was available long ago. Can't find it in this platform anymore. Anyway, this one is still a great opportunity to see RTF with the amazing Bill Connors.

[@peterbrown-ug9rv]

Are used to practice this song in my room playing to the record Lenny White it’s just amazing

[@curtisunit]

That font at the beginning is the absolute most 1973 thing I’ve ever seen. God I sure liked this lineup. Bil had the grease. The magic was happening.

[@fallbangskid8304]

1973! Love RTF!

[@belheredia7347]

They were just babies at the top of their game. WOW! I love Jazz

[@balabunat]

Holy shit, dat guitar-keyboard dialogue is just amazing

[@smkelly1970]

not that the interplay between Chick and Bill wasn't enough- but when Stanley and Lenny hit the pocket at 5:40-6:29, the gig's up. That is a right, tight rhythm section for the ages. DAMN!

[@LordUnas]

Chick Corea was already in his 30s by this point, but he looks about half that age. Anyway, it’s a joy to watch these guys having so much fun, digging what each other are doing.

[@sonicplayg]

incredible.. i finally get to see the full footage of this performance.. Love old RTF. Thanks for posting. Bill Connors is so underrated... A true artist in every aspect.

[@vbassone]

What do you mean by the “entire” performance? Is there footage of more than just this song from this gig or did you just mean this complete song? Thanks.

[@harveyja7336]

@@vbassone I think he’s referring to the 4 minute version of this video that’s floating around yt though why anyone thought any of this performance should be cut is beyond me!

[@sheercerebralpower]

Underrated is not the issue when Chick Corea chooses you for his band…..you are already rated by the best of the best….as musical co contributor……

[@thewordofgog]

Jeez Chick looks about 15 here! God rest his soul

[@patrickmcginn4435]

Drummer has a really unusual playing style.

[@Kilgore40]

Look at how young they are. Amazing.

[@alexsf4248]

Such a treasure this video. Bill Connors solos moved me with RTF and Stanley Clarke self titled album (his second), a masterpiece! ❤️🙏🎶

[@mattlayton412]

I'm new to Jazz fusion, but when I heard this the first time, WOW!!!!!! I was like, I'm gonna like this!!!!

[@bradreigel4728]

This slaps so good

[@curiousnomad]

Great to watch Lenny with such a light touch even though it’s fusion and was probably loud.

[@t.seank.529]

They got much louder in the Dimeola period!

[@TheJazzweed]

Fantastic , it doesn't get better than this!!

[@civilian8697]

No it does not 🙂

[@ElectroPercs]

This was a great show!

[@Thomas_Anderson001]

Bill lo Máximo para esa época

[@jefffelderman2409]

So young and so amazing. Great musicianship. Lenny and Stanley are so locked into the groove. And Chick and Bill trading off is a joy to watch and hear.

[@pteeng1]

Fantastic! I could never understand why Bill Connors left the band.

[@WelshVegan]

Bill Connors looks about three and a half here! His tone reminds me of some Gary Boyle stuff. Lenny is astounding! Looks like it's from The Old Grey Whistle Test.

[@RaulMacias-o9o]

Various Return To Forever line ups ~ RETURN TO FOREVER ~ 1972~ 1973 Chick Corea Stan Clarke Bill Connors Steve Gadd ~ Drums James "Mingo" Lewis ~ Congas RETURN TO FOREVER ~ JUNE 4,1973 Cbick Corea Stan Clarke Bill Connors James "Mingo" Lewis Daryll Brown ~ Drums RETURN TO FOEVER ~ JULY 4,1973 Cbick Corea Stan Clarke Bill Connors James "Mingo" Lewis Lenny White ~ Drums RETURN TO FOREVER ~ 1973~1974 Chick Corea Stan Clarke Bill Connors Lenny White RETURN TO FOREVER ~ 1974 Chick Corea Stanley Clarke Lenny White Earl Klugh ~ Guitar RETURN TO FOREVER ~ 1974~1976 Chick Corea Stanley Clarke Lenny White Al DiMeola ~ Guitar

[@gerardovivanco5631]

Bill Connors was a great guitar player!!

[@diegovoglino8443]

He was?

[@rustydavis5350]

Wish there was footage of them with earl klugh

[@pageljazz]

Hey! Chick's playing an AHHP AWDESSY!

[@JamesZaworski]

I love it but I heard that they pushed young Bill a bit too much and even though he excelled he was replaced. In the age of the Internet, his family contacted me to find out where he was because I had written a music review of his early 80s stuff. Of course, Bill never left and continued to jam and continues to do some fantastic work.

[@MegaCraptacular]

Wow, never seen this. Chick was playing the Oddesy back then instead of the Mini and no Al De Meola.

[@michaelgraham9774]

I honestly like Bill more than Al

[@piedic.4493]

Maestro Armando & Co.

[@jackprecip5389]

Corea and White came to the gig straight from the handball court or the gym apparently.

[@paulbalogh4582]

Never heard of Bill - what did he go on to do? These guys are like teenagers.

[@Magnetron33]

RIP CHICK!

[@anatolidrobine8798]

]azz fusion at its Best.

[@VisualControlRoom]

Getting real shwifty 🫶🏾

[@Groovemannn]

!!!!!!

[@dariomaiello393]

♥️

[@WELLBRAN]

Used to wonder why on every album cover they mentioned Ron L Hubbard ..turns out he was financing them for equipment .. aagh right!

[@Oneness100]

I believe both Stanley and Chick were both part of Scientology.. I know Chick definitely was.

[@WELLBRAN]

@@Oneness100 Agh that has a catch to it... I read that Ron Hubbard gave financial help to buy it instuments etc for artists that supported his causes

[@stevegrantley378]

🤯👌

[@totsu3046]

1:20

[@jamesmcauslan3616]

billy connors is so hot! what a cutie!

[@jazzjens]

S O G O O O O O O O O D ! ! !

[@deronholzschu9207]

Schooled punk rock!

[@Doofkopf12345]

New to Return to Forever, does anyone know if this track appears on any of their albums? Couldn’t find it doing a (very) quick scan skipping through their discography

[@civilian8697]

This song is called Space Circus, and it's from their album Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy. The song is technically two parts, and what they're performing here is the second part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHi8aZ2iYqyMeKc

[@Doofkopf12345]

@@civilian8697 Crazy stuff! I actually listened to that record a few months ago and knew it sounded familiar somehow. Thanks a lot! Will have to get the vinyl soon 😄

[@civilian8697]

@@Doofkopf12345 Haha! It's one great album. Good luck finding it!

[@MisterSpigot95]

@@civilian8697 I got a vinyl copy on discogs a few weeks ago. What's harder is to be sure you get a clean copy.

[@civilian8697]

@@MisterSpigot95 Cool! Yeah I bought mine in a store and it's still I pretty good condition

[@geoffhummerstone]

d boyz

[@michaelb.42112]

BILL CONNORS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thf62]

1:00 unusual fill for Lenny edit I think its cause everyone here is tired besides stanley

[@ronaldkey4522]

Connors' playing changed my world back then, and some really excellent work of his is out there, but for me this isn't part of it. Still a good song, and I love Lenny.

[@robertgiles9124]

Not long after this Bill quit the band and I was so lucky to take Lessons with him in Bolinas, California. He was patient and also encouraged me to play flute which I had just started. His influenced changed my wole life and I also went more into the acoustic side even doing Classical for years; kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWrSpKN6ZrGcbqM

[@LoveandHavoc]

why do they all look like high school kids in this video 😂 Maybe its cause Chick is clean shaved haha

[@raulmacias1311]

I have the deepest admiration for the late Chick Corea! I had the pleasure of meeting and shaking hands with Chick after an appearance by Return To Forever on August 18,1974 at Doug Weston's Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. Unbeknownst to my brother and I, Bill Connors had left the band in April,1974. We were deeply disappointed! I must say though that I couldn't stand Chick's use of the pitch wheel on the Mini Moog! His phrasing sounds like Mickey Mouse music! Chick sounded much better soloing on the Fender Rhodes Electric Piano and the Arp Pro Soloist which doesn't have a pitch wheel!

[@Drivethebeat]

Woah! Never seen him play the Pro-Soloist. On the original ARP Odyssey here though. I agree with you on the pitch bend approach 😌

[@webz3589]

Is that an alembic bass? Happens to be my dream bass. Looks like a series 1 to me. Infact id hazard a gues that thats stanly clarke. Not being massivly involved with this sort of.music im not sure but i swear it is.

[@civilian8697]

I believe it is. I'm not huge with basses (knowledge) but I think that is. You gotta follow Stanley Clarke man! He's incredible. RTF is one of the best bands IMO.

[@webz3589]

Well if it is stanly clarke that is definatly an alembic, he's known for em

[@civilian8697]

@@webz3589 Yep!

[@kyotojoel]

The story is that Alembic luthier Rick Turner had heard Stanley playing a Gibson EB-2, loved Stanley's playing but hated the sound S was getting off the Gibson, so he brought an Alembic to one of Stanley's gigs and Stanley never looked back. This was '72 or '73, I think.

[@darrylguerrant5101]

Dude, never any doubt... It's Stanley Clarke.

[@andreiwagnerromanek5005]

Can someone tell me who the drummer is?

[@civilian8697]

Lenny White

[@totsu3046]

Song name?

[@jonp4846]

Space Circus

[@franks.8189]

Bill Connors played and sounded like a mini moog player here

[@guitaralligator7250]

Bill Connors is the most. Al Di Meola is great, but this band was best with Bill.

[@pageljazz]

I agree. Bill's playing on Hot7G is wonderful.

[@kentholmberg1818]

Agree! With Bill RTF was as good as Mahavishnu mark 1.

[@alexsf4248]

Indeed! Stanley Clarke’s self titled second album is in my opinion (he was my idol in my youth), his masterpiece in great part due to Bill Connor’s out of this world solos. Since I was born and raised in Brazil and came to the US when I was 17 in 79, I was very proud to have Airto Moreira an Flora Purim being part of RTF first two albums and in cloud nine to have Stanley playing upright my main ax at the time, but in my opinion RTF masterpiece is it’s third album Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (including this piece), precisely because of the participation of Bill and his incredible playing!

[@RaulMacias-o9o]

​​​@@kentholmberg1818The difference between the two bands was that Chick Corea's Return To Forever's music was a celebration of life with that wonderful Latin element that Chick's compositions included. Initially, the group featured Steve Gadd on Drums and James "Mingo" Lewis on Congas. Chick was exclusively playing the Fender Rhodes Electric Piano. They would play Sometime Ago and Spain. That's when Bill Connors was very happy in the band. Chick then got into Synthesizers and trading solos back and forth alá Mahavishnu Orchestra which Connors wasn't pleased with as you can see in this clip! Bill liked to build up his solos and be expressive. Quote by BILL CONNORS ~ "Chick had a lot of ideas that were part of his involvement with Scientology. He got more demanding, and I wasn't allowed to control my.own solos. I had no power in the music at all. In the end, my only power was to quit." I saw Return To Forever on August 18,1974 at Doug Weston's Troubadour in West Hollywood and was deeply disappointed when I learned Bill Connors had left the band! The highlight was meeting both Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke!

[@nathandodge665]

In your opinion. And where is Bill today? Pretty insignificant now eh?

[@sandytrunks]

That is Bill Conners on guitar. No offense to Mr. Conners but I understand why Chick replaced him with Dimeola. Al was like a kid on cocaine. Which was the energy Chick wanted (IMHO). Bill was and is a Jazz Guitarist. Respect. But Chick wanted Fusion (Rock and Jazz combined)

[@civilian8697]

I can see that. I love both!

[@rkatz0]

Bill Conners was a way better musician and guitarist at that time than Al Dimeola. I strongly doubt that is the real reason Chick hired Al Dimeola.

[@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic]

It is well documented that Connors left due to Corea's weird Scientology-related demands on the band members and also Corea was trying to control how Connors played -- which was stifling to his own style of soloing.

[@sonicplayg]

@@JazzRockFusionSynthesizerMusic exactly.. thanks for the clarity :)

[@lorddalek]

Bill Conners left because he hated touring. Chick brought in Earl Klugh to replace him but it didn't work out. Al was literally some guy they pulled out of the audience for a live gig and the rest is history.

[@GonzalesMichael-sx4sd]

I think Billy Cobham is now a woman...it don't make him a bad guy!!!

[@CSBourne]

Bill was so much better than Al.

[@dimashub]

Tribute? Clowns?

[@Elantoniosalas]

Name of the song?