During an era when the give-and-take "fusion" was applied to whatever mixture of jazz with popular or funk, Chick Corea's Elektric Band reinforced the word's master copy meaning: a combination of jazz improvisations with the power, rhythms as well as audio of rock. Eye of the Beholder, which flora guitarist Frank Gambale, saxophonist Eric Marienthal as well as bassist John Patitucci displaying increasingly master copy solo voices, is ane of this group's finest recordings as well as ranks with the best fusion of the latter one-half of the 1980s.
After a highly impressive debut album as well as a stylistically simpler sophomore release, the Chick Corea Elektric Band proceeded to create an album that was musically to a greater extent than advanced than anything they had accomplished before. The result, EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, is arguably the best tape the band produced inward their seven-year existence. With saxophonist Eric Marienthal as well as guitarist Frank Gambale on board to get upwards the gist trio of Corea, Dave Weckl (drums) as well as John Patitucci (bass), EYE is the perfect remainder of the group's stunning technical chops, musical artistry as well as technological wizardry.
The most obvious difference on this tape is the incorporation of to a greater extent than natural, acoustic sounds into the "electric" format. Corea's piece of job of acoustic pianoforte (enhanced past times synthesizers), Weckl's natural drum as well as percussion sounds, Marienthal's sax as well as fifty-fifty Gambale's piece of job of roughly acoustic guitar lend a much warmer vibe to EYE than previous efforts. What's more, many compositions, including "Home Universe," "Eternal Child," "Beauty" as well as "Ezinda" direct maintain a really chamber-ensemble experience with many varied textures as well as dynamics. Finally, the championship rail is a spectacular Spanish-flavored barnburner inward the mode of Corea's "Spain" that showcases each member's strengths to the fullest.
“Eye of the Beholder” - An appropriate championship for a piece of job that that may non appeal to all, but for those who tin run into past times the surface as well as seat with Chick Corea's unique audio as well as creative genius, this is an absolute gem.
The 3rd position out of the Electrik Band, the album follows the master copy self-titled "Electrik Band" as well as "Light Years". One notes a clear divergence from the master copy difficult electrical fusion of the start tape to a to a greater extent than acoustic sound, a tendency that continued with the position out of the band's 4th album - "Inside Out".
In my opinion, "Eye of the Beholder" was undoubtedly the tiptop of the Electric Band's existence.
The impressive affair close roughly of the Electric Band's before piece of job is how the absolute best tin last brought out of uncomplicated compositions, exactly past times smashing musicianship as well as improvisation. I am non a pupil of music, as well as thus the technical price elude me, but my perception is that most of these industrial plant piece of job a basic core, which gets repeated several times with small, but perceivable changes on each cycle. It is a tedious but deliberate construct upwards to the ultimate climax. I wonder if the term “Stretch” Corea used inward the naming of his tape companionship refers to this concept?
"Eye of the Beholder” is no different inward this regard, but the compositions are meatier than the before releases. Each rail has an originality of its ain as well as takes the listener on an emotional excursion.
Of the Electrik Band releases, this tape is the most timeless as well as sounds every bit skilful today every bit when I purchased it inward 1991.
It is an absolute must for whatever respectable Fusion collection.
I am a instrumentalist as well as a HUGE fan of the Elektric Band. I must say, this album has in all likelihood shaped my keyboard styles to a greater extent than than whatever other. My blood brother is a drummer as well as used to direct maintain these tapes, when he was away I would sneak inward his handbag as well as ask heed to his tapes (remember those!); this album blew my mind, it was dissimilar anything I'd e'er heard. Once I got into jazz I flora out where Chick draws his mode from, as well as close the Elektric Band concept, this album stands out with the serial every bit the most epic; to this twenty-four hours it contains roughly of the most beautiful as well as intricately woven counter-melodies as well as harmonies that I've heard, as well as to think: the start fourth dimension I heard this album I wasn't fifty-fifty a teenager yet, as well as it was over 12 years ago. No pianist last today matches Chick's unique combination of skill, technique, artistry, as well as overall musicality, as well as this album shines. I honey all of the E. Band albums, but this ane stands out because of its overall 'acoustic' experience as well as intertwined themes. Listen to the album direct through, as well as you'll hear recurring passages as well as themes throughout - as well as it volition brand you lot smile.
This album is a must have, for whatever fan of Chick Corea.
If you lot are looking for smashing synth sounds from the 80's, smashing compositions, as well as the best musicians, "Eye of the Beholder" won't dissapoint you. It has the good known progressive jazz of Chick Corea along with his friends: John Patitucci (basses), Dave Weckl (drums as well as percussion), Eric Marienthal (sax), Frank Gambale (guitar).
"Home Universe", the start song, starts with smashing percussion as well as "strings" inward a march-like musical rhythm amount of mystery. "Eternal Child" is a beautiful ballad inward piano. "Cascade" has an intro which uses a synth audio that makes you lot experience every bit if you lot were inward front end of a cascade.
The album is an fantabulous recording with smashing mixing past times Bernie Kirsh as well as Chick Corea.
Personally, this is my favorite album past times Chick as well as his band. I direct maintain never lost the feel of satisfaction I experience each fourth dimension I ask heed to the album. I highly recommend it, peculiarly to Chick fans.
Wow...I can't believe anyone would tell this position out was anything but perfect. This CD is what turned me on to jazz inward the start place...I was sixteen as well as a metallic caput at the time. Here it is, close xv years later, as well as I all the same ask heed to this CD constantly. The actual music is beautiful, the transitions are genius, as well as the musicians...well, inward my persuasion in that location couldn't direct maintain been a amend blend of members. This album completely changed me every bit a musician.
Track listing:
01. Home Universe (2:44)
02. Eternal Child (4:52)
03. Forgotten Past (2:58)
04. Passage (4:56)
05. Beauty (7:56)
06. Cascade, Pt. 1 (1:54)
07. Cascade, Pt. ii (5:19)
08. Trance Dance (5:50)
09. Eye of the Beholder (6:39)
10. Ezinda (6:54)
11. Amnesia (3:28)
Vinyl Version has entirely tracks 1-9 (GRP-A-91053)
Personnel:
Chick Corea – synthesizer, piano, arranger, keyboards, producer, engineer, liner notes, mixing
Frank Gambale – guitar
Eric Marienthal – saxophone
John Novello – synthesizer (track ii only)
John Patitucci – bass
Dave Weckl – drums
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