Seton Hall University - Galleon Yearbook (South Orange, NJ)

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by Sue Boyle CHICK COREA: the Jazz Man Seton Hall ' s jazz fans were treated to a rare experience on Nov. 14 when Chick Corea ' s Re- turn to Forever performed in the main lounge. Chick composed most of the songs for the group ' s recent album. Hymn of the Seventh Gal- axy. The way they ' re rendered is a group effort, he said. And as we play material that stems from the feelings of everybody that feel- ing of group creation will become more and more manifest. Chick Corea began as a jazz pianist. He made albums such as Tones for Joan ' s Gones and Now — He Sings, Now — He Sobs. Corea generally moved farther out in the way of avant-garde music. This movement reached its climax with a group called Circle, with David Holland, Barry Altshul and Anthony Braxton, and was widely recog- nized as one of the best bands around. At the same time, Corea got it on with Miles Davis and was a full-fledged member of his troupe when Miles was getting electric, appearing also on every album from In a Silent Way to On the Corner. When the seventies hit, some- thing happened to Chick Corea. He began to feel less and less satisfied with the music he was playing. It was becoming too introspective, and he began to feel alienated from the outside world and fearful that the gap would become a bar- rier to communication. Circle dis- banded and a group called Return to Forever was born. The musicians are about the best anywhere. The group is headed by Corea, and features Stanley Clarke, who after a couple of years as a pro is now heralded as the best, most revolutionary, bassist of our time. Then there ' s Bill Connors on guitar; also amazing but as yet un- known. Drummer Lenny White, who gained a good reputation with Miles Davis is absolutely incredible. The music of this band is warm, outgoing, and full of personality. In terms of music, the 32-year- old Corea has gone from his early Latin e xperience to outer space. His recent album. Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy set the night as a space opera ranging from the title tune of After the Cosmic Rain, ' Theme to the Mother Ships, Space Cir- cus and Captain Senor Mouse. In a private interview after the concert, Corea was asked when he would be satisfied with himself as an artist. There are many barriers to overcome when communicating music like ours, and when I over- come, or surpass them, I think I will feel satisfied, he said. We ' re doing something together and we ' re going to accomplish somthing together. There ' s a feel- ing of wanting to be together as people, having a mutual respect for one another. This is the first time I ' ve been in a band with this kind of feeling, and I ' ve been playing in bands for a lot of years. Corea admires such greats as Bach, Beethoven . . . and Stevie Wonder. Yet he feels that there was no one musician that influenced his approach to music. Many of the pieces that he composed are about children, merely because he likes them. Chick Corea and Return to For- ever has fulfilled the need for a deviation from the contemporary rock modality. From the response of the audience, it seems that perhaps the public is willing to meet them half-way. 19