RETURN TO FOREVER | The Legacy Part 1

[@callmejeffbob]

The first two times I saw RTF was two consecutive nights in 1973 at the Cellar Door, a famous nightclub in Washington DC. It was shortly before "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" was released, but the band was the line-up of that upcoming album with Stanley Clarke, Bill Connors and Lenny White but without Flora Purim or Joe Farrell. I don't think Airto was present either. However, the tunes they played included many of the Latin pieces from the first two records that I was already familiar with like "La Fiesta", "Spain", "500 Miles High" etc., but also included the fusion stuff that was going to be included on "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" . I specifically remember Chick Corea announcing the the title tune and "Captain Senior Mouse" . It was really interesting to see the band in its transitional phase. Stanley Clarke was playing acoustic bass on the Latin tunes and electric on the newer stuff. A great show, and very memorable even 50 years later (where did the time go?). I was only eighteen at the time (D.C. used to allow eighteen year-olds into clubs and they were allowed to drink beer or wine but you had to be 21 to drink hard liquor). That being said, I remember getting into the Cellar Door a few times even before I was 18 to see various artists like BB King and Muddy Waters; I think facial hair was my ID...LOL.

[@michaelmarino3013]

Yes holy trinity indeed.!!

[@martinbroten9467]

My first exposure to RTF was via a TV show around '74 or so. I must have been 14. The show had the Headhunters and RTF playing for 30 minutes each, and then closed with a short piano duet by Hancock and Corea. I liked the Headhunters fine, but RTF just blew me away. I had never seen either the guitar or bass played with such speed and precision. I was instantly a huge fan of both. And the drummer was great...but he was playing backwards! I'd never seen a right handed drummer playing the high hats and ride cymbal with his left hand. And the keyboardist wasn't bad either ;-). I think that was the first time I'd experienced the concept of "trading fours". Went out and bought "Where Have Known You Before" shortly thereafter. Great stuff.

[@georgelamie7001]

The recording engineer on Romantic Warrior was Dennis Mackay

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks George

[@stevescott200]

I think he also done the Brand X albums,

[@patrickschlosser8208]

All Return To Forever albums are great. My favorite album is "No Mystery". What the guys show musically on this album is in a class of its own. Of course, being a bass player, I pay special attention to Stanley Clarke. For me the best and most consistent bass player of all time. Thanks Andy for your interesting videos. Hope to see you again at Sea of tranquility soon. Warm greetings from Germany. 😃👍👍👍

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Patrick, doing a video for SoT next weekend on electric 70s Miles Davis...

[@patrickschlosser8208]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer That's great. I will look.👍

[@OriginalApexTwin]

I'm currently listening to The Romantic Warrior title track over and over again at the moment. It's getting better every time I listen. It's one of the most well constructed pieces of music I've ever heard. I'm glad I found this Andy, looking forward to listening to part 2!

[@davidjperkins1710]

Saw RTF on a double bill with Weather Report at Massey Hall (c1974) -Lenny White and Stanley Clarke.

[@randygirard6691]

Another great show. One of the reasons I like what you're doing is us jazz fusion lovers are well there's not a whole lot of us. Can be lonely sometimes but you bring a comprehensive and enthusiast approach to it all. Much appreciated!

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

Return To Forever are one of the greatest bands of all time in any genre asthey were able to blend jazz and rock into one but still make it sound fresh. They started out as a laidback brazilian bossa nova type of music with Floria Purim's high vocals and then crancked up the volume to 11 with a more of a harder rockier approach when Bill Connors and later on Al Di Meola came onboard. Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy, No Mystery, Where Have I Known You Before are some of the finest music they ever made and Romantic Warrior for me is their best album ever. A true collection of legends who came together to create musicial magic. Great video Andy and looking forward to part 2.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

It will be out tomorrow...thanks

[@davestephens6421]

Just been listening to probably my favourite JazzRock album, or any genre for that matter...unbelievable playing all around...perhaps it needs a full programme of analysis....Stanley Clarke...as a guitarist Bill Connors is simply the most exciting guitarist in the genre for me!!! The perfect JazzRock lineup....

[@terryjohnson5275]

Yes those four electric RTF albums are just so good, and being a Prog and HM fan my favourite is Romatic Warrior - I just had a look on Discogs (my CDs are in my loft) and it says it was engineered by Dennis MacKay (who it also says learned under the guidance of Ken Scott and Roy Thomas Baker, so you werent too far away thinking it could have been Ken Scott) assted by Tom Likes. Looking forward to the rest of the series and your take on MusicMagic and the RTF live 1977 release. At the time I bought that, when I kicked off my foray into all things jazz rock fusion in 2002, I had no idea that it didnt feature electric guitar and had a brass section and vocals, however I soon came to really like it, even though its certainly a step away from the 4 Di Meola and Connors albums.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for that info, I didn't talk that much about the last to RTF albums but I do get into the solo albums more

[@MrThomas1958]

thx

[@RonHallKungFuBro]

Great subject.Of all the top fusion bands RTF Latin infused arrangements and melodies made them the most accessible . The influence of RTF can be seen in the fusion offshoot of 'contemporary jazz' affecting everything from GRP records to Kenny G.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

without a doubt

[@mainzergirl9610]

Discovered your channel 2 weeks ago. Love the content, love your obvious enthusiasm and knowledge. This metalhead has learned a lot.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

We are all metalheads deep down!

[@dlsamson]

Thank-you for posting this 🙂

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

My pleasure!

[@visog]

What about '77's 'Music Magic'?

[@stevescott200]

Thanks Andy, great video , got all these on vinyl, what a band,

[@the16thGemini]

I am very happy to have stumbled upon this. It is so fitting to continue to celebrate the legacy of Chick Corea and the groundbreaking Return To Forever. This band is indeed timeless. Each album is different than the preceding one. Their sound was always evolving. RTF always left you wanting more, as with any case of greatness. Besides the group's strong impact on jazz fusion and rock, it's influence on Funk was strong too. Stanley Clarke advancing on Larry Graham's innovations (Sly and The Family Stone). The Purple One aka Prince Rogers Nelson even acknowledged the band.

[@jefferysimpkins366]

Great video! You mentioned the label's marketing of Fusion. I wondered if the bands were sold as a sub genre of rock. You have Blues Rock, Folk Rock, here is Jazz Rock. Rather than sell them as loud Jazz bands.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Without a doubt fusion was able to assimilate it's self withing the prog rock genre, then later the disco genre

[@davestephens6421]

Great stuff. According to Lenny's interview with Gregg Bendian (?) they re-recorded "Hymn" and he didn't overdub Sreve Gadds drums.

[@georgelamie7001]

Correct. Per the liner notes of their first Anthology release, they re-did the entire album.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Still a mind boggling achievement. I think the Gadd versions are availble now

[@davestephens6421]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer indeedy....would love to hear those sessions....an album's worth of new Connors to study!!!

[@davestephens6421]

Andy, listening to the masterpiece that is 'Stanley Clarke' for the millionth time...it always blows me away.....for me the perfect band playing at the top of their game and engineered by the brilliant Ken Scott ( have you read his autobiography?). I think this album deserves a video devoted entirely to it's genius!!!! Just a thought....never, ever tired of listening to it since it was released.....up there with the Mahavishnu and Miles in my opinion....

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I do agree...one of the greatest fusion albums of all time and the one great line-up that seems to tie all the big fusion bands together.

[@garyh.238]

Agreed.....Connors' solo on Life Suite Part IV is one for the ages. @@AndyEdwardsDrummer

[@garyh.238]

Absolutely. It is my favourite fusion album of all.

[@RobertVeasquez]

Return To Forever wasn’t a favorite of mine although I appreciated greatly their contribution to the jazz rock fusion genre. I really love the spin off recording by the individual members more. As much as I like DiMeola, Bill Connors was a favorite within this bands setting. Now onto vid #2.

[@teedee2689]

Bill was the best for RTF. Al was not my thing. Hymn of the 7th is just insane. Bill Connors solo stuff is great, and I consider it more sophisticated than Al's solo stuff. I saw the RTF reunion show, and sadly it was mediocre. Corea was good but Al was a bore and Lenny was not really pushing much, but happy to see him live as I love his 70's playing. Lenny was well recorded too.

[@mattf9076]

I can't pick a favorite album, having said that I have listened to Light as a Feather the most. Flora Purim is easily one of my favorite vocalists of all time. I did enjoy your remix of 500 Miles High on your album Curios vol 1. I think Laswell would agree.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Matt

[@grahamallen9393]

Fascinating as always , I m just starting to explore Lenny Whites solo output , seems a unique explosive style , quite loose and the open handed technique.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes. And his presence on Bitches Brew is testament to his importance to this genre. One of the greats

[@teedee2689]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Alphonse Muzon - 11th House is a bad ass. He drafted Tommy Bolin also for his solo album, Brain Transplant. Worthy and Funky.

[@psicodrummer7658]

Hard to choose on album. Where have I know you was the first I listened and abslotulety loved It. Then Romantic Warrior wich is their pinnacle. By the way, fans use to bash Musicmagic, but I think It has its moments.Ok, it's not as good as The classic álbums, but I think it's a good record. I love Gerry Brown's drumming on it

[@mattf9076]

For Romantic Warrior Dennis MacKay - recording engineer, mxing Tom Likes - assistant engineer

[@jeffreytaylor6257]

Chick was a composer. JT

[@steffenroth501]

The Art Of Bop Drumming is a great book, isn`t it ?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes, I'm working through the it at the moment.

[@JohnCregoWorldMusic]

pres·age | ˈpresij, prəˈsāj | verb [with object] (of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen: the outcome of the game presaged the coming year.