If you have marginally followed avant-garde jazz, then the names Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Gambale otherwise known as Return to Forever (RTO) IV are familiar names. The jazz fusion supergroup visited ACL Live at the Moody Theater Wednesday evening with an extra member (Ponty) than previous incarnations. The audience responded well the fourth edition of the lineup which still features founding members, Corea playing keyboards and Clarke's ground-breaking bass work on both the upright and electric.
The added element of Ponty's electric violin to the mix made RTO sound orchestral on some pieces, particulary during Romantic Warrior (see video) late in the set. The fifteen minute song is the title track to the band's best selling album which sold over a half-million copies after it's 1976 release. The conclusion of the song was met with a standing ovation from the nearly sold-out Moody crowd. It was one of several ovations during the nearly 90-minute set.
The free form jazz fusion that RTO pioneered long format songs that allowed them to feature solos of all their incredible musicians. The work of Clarke on the upright bass was astounding. It was easy to see why so many bassists attempt to emulate Clarke. We suspect few succeed. The pieces played were complex and left room for improvisation. On some songs, Ponty played his part with Gambale on guitar a welcome departure from past editions of RTO.
Here is the set list as pusblished on the RTO web site:
Medieval Overture
Senor Mouse
Sorceress / Shadow of Lo
Renaissance
After the Cosmic Rain
Romantic Warrior
Spain
School Days
RTO has seven remaining U.S. dates on the current tour:
17 September MESA, AZ Mesa Arts Center19 September SAN DIEGO, CA Humphrey’s20 September LOS ANGELES, CA Greek Theatre21 September DAVIS, CA Mondavi Center22 September SAN FRANCISCO, CA Warfield Theatre23 September EUGENE, OR Hult Center24 September SEATTLE, WA Paramount Theater
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