Chick Corea – Rendezvous in New York (2003) [2x SACD] [SACD / Stretch Records – SCD2-9041-2]

Title: Chick Corea – Rendezvous in New York (2003) [2x SACD]
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Recorded at The Blue Note, New York, New York in December 2001. This album is destined to be ranked as one of the great live jazz concert albums of all time, right up there with ‘Live at the Village Vanguard’ and ‘Waltz for Debbie’. Rendezvous in New York was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. “Matrix” won for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. “Armando’s Rhumba” was nominated for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists.

One of Chick Corea’s most ambitious projects was the recording of almost 60 hours of music with nine different groups over a three-week run at the Blue Note in December 2001; it must have been a challenge to choose the dozen performances for this two-CD set. The first disc begins with scat singer par excellence Bobby McFerrin joining the pianist to scat his way through three selections, including a stunning medley of an excerpt from Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” and Corea’s “Spain.” Bassist Miroslav Vitous and ageless drummer Roy Haynes provide the pulse to his extended work “Matrix.” Corea’s well-crafted tribute to Bud Powell, with Terence Blanchard and Joshua Redman in the front line, combines two of Powell’s greatest works, “Glass Enclosure” and “Tempus Fugit.” But Corea is at his most lyrical when old friend Gary Burton joins him to revisit the pianist’s masterpiece, the shimmering “Crystal Silence.” The second disc is also full of great music, though disc one clearly gets the edge, with the possible exception of the virtuoso duo piano interpretation with Gonzalo Rubalcaba of the same medley performed with McFerrin on the first CD. It is safe to say that no fan of Chick Corea will be disappointed with this wide-ranging compilation of live music, and it is also a great starting point for those not familiar with his voluminous works. Highly recommended.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

Tracklist:

Disc 1
01. Armando’s Rhumba
02. Blue Monk
03. Concerto D’Aranjuez / Spain
04. Matrix
05. Glass Enclosure / Tempus Fugit
06. Crystal Silence
07. Bessie’s Blues

Disc 2
01. Autumn Leaves
02. Armando’s Tango
03. Concerto D’Aranjuez / Spain
04. Lifeline
05. Quartet No.2 Part 1

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