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CD - The
Leprechaun
 DVD Review
Title: The Leprechaun
Artist: Chick Corea/Return to Forever
Release Date:1976 (Vinyl)
www.chickcorea.com
Chick leads the
RTF band with this impressive jazz recording first put down in 1976 and
now available in as a re-mastered version released in 1999. The
Leprechaun is an orchestral jazz album featuring much of Chicks
piano expertise and also proving that he is an accomplished composer. The musicians number 14 total including wife
Gayle Moran singing and writing 'Soft & Gentle'. The drum beat
precision of Steve Gadd, a long time associate of Corea is noticeable
throughout particularly on 'Pixiland' and 'Nite Sprite'. The album was also a
milestone for Chick winning him 2 Grammies that year, one as 'Best
Instrumental Arrangement' for 'Leprechaun's Dream' and for
'Best Jazz
Performance' for the album.
Track List:
1. Imp's Welcome (2:56)
2. Lenore (3:26)
3. Reverie (2:01)
4. Looking at the World (5:29)
5. Nite Sprite (4:33)
6. Soft & Gentle (5:09)
7. Pixiland Rag (1:11)
8. Leprechaun's Dream (13:03)
The album is noted as being the first to be released purely under his
name for 3 years, rather than as part of the Return to Forever band.
This is not an album for improvisation fans as it almost entirely
arranged, hence the Grammy. The album has a definite storyline
with the 'Imp's Welcome' being the intro and with gradually more artists
being involved, with the momentous 2 part 'Leprechaun's Dream' ending
the set.
The album seems a natural progression for Chick towards the fusion
and improvised style as heard on Romantic Warrior. In
all a worth while listen and an essential addition to any jazz
collection.
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