In the 1970s, the fusion movement blended the power of rock with the harmonic and technical sophistication of jazz, producing one of the most innovative periods in jazz history. Standing along groundbreaking acts like Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report was Return to Forever, founded by legendary keyboardist Chick Corea in 1972. Initially formed as more of a Latin outfit, the band changed lineups several times and became more electric as the decade progressed. The latest iteration, dubbed Return to Forever IV, is currently on tour and will perform tonight at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
“The way I explain it, if you were to take 5 A-list actors and you got them to talk about all the films they’ve made over 40 years, that’s what’s happening,” said drummer Lenny White, who joined Return to Forever in 1973 and is playing on the current tour. “You’re hearing that coversation.”
In addition to Corea and White, the concert will feature bassist extraordinaire Stanley Clarke, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and guitarist Frank Gambale. Each of these musicians is responsible for taking their respective instruments to new heights.
While this particular group came together just earlier this year for an Australian tour, and completed a month long European tour earlier this year, its members have played with each other in other settings. Each musician is experienced in any number of musical genres, and this fluency leads White to eschew the term “fusion” when describing the band.
“I believe that this is the only band that authentically plays jazz music and authentically plays rock,” said White. “It’s not a fusion band. It’s a jazz-rock band.”
While the show will include some new material, much of the program will be devoted to classic material that has been reworked for the new lineup. Though White has been playing these songs for decades, the music’s improvisational nature keeps the songs fresh. Citing Miles Davis’s famous bands as an example, White explained how a limited songbook allows the band to explore and highlight the nuances of each tune.
“The band explores different angles on the same tunes all the time. We deconstruct and reconstruct the tunes every night,” he said.
Opening will be a band paying tribute to another artist that turned music on its ear. Before his untimely passing in 1993, Frank Zappa had a 30-year career that included over 60 albums that ranged from classic rock to avant-garde orchestral explorations. His son, Dweezil Zappa, will lead his band, Zappa Plays Zappa, through his father’s classic material.
Like Zappa, Return to Forever has always sought to make music with highest level of integrity, aiming to challenge the listener while also establishing an emotional connection.
As White put it, “as an artist, you do what you do and you hope that the audience that comes to support you gets fulfilled. Musically speaking, it’s been a very great musical experience.”
Return to Forever IV will perform tonight, August 9, 2011, at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Zappa Plays Zappa will open. 5:30 p.m. doors. $40 to $125 + fees.
