Return to Forever

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Return to Forever

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Biography

Return to Forever was the name of a jazz fusion band founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. The band cycled through many members, but the only consistent band mate of Corea’s was bassist Stanley Clarke. Along with Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra, these bands are often seen as the core of jazz fusion music in the 1970s. Several musicians, including Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Al Di Meola first became well-known through their performances on Return to Forever’s albums.

After playing on Miles Davis’s albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew, Corea formed an avant-garde jazz band called Circle with Dave Holland, Anthony Braxton and Barry Altschul. However in 1972, after becoming a disciple of Scientology, Corea decided that he wanted to “communicate” with the audience. This essentially meant that he wanted to make more commercial music, since avant-garde jazz had a relatively small audience.

The first line-up (1972 - 1973)

The first Return to Forever band played latin-oriented music. The initial band consisted of singer (and occasional percussionist) Flora Purim, her husband Airto Moreira on drums and other percussion, Corea’s longtime musical co-worker Joe Farrell on saxophone and flute, and the young bassist Stanley Clarke, who became the only constant member of the band apart from Corea. Especially in this first line-up, Clarke played double bass in addition to electric bass.

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  • Redeyexpress

    These guys have some excellent linage..

    20 Feb 6:35am Reply
  • Tensegrity17

    No Mystery is an amazing album!

    29 Jan 8:51pm Reply
  • HomingLasers

    proto vapor-wave

    14 Aug 2012 Reply
  • barryvs

    Spanish Fantasy from Live is a really great way to pass 25 minutes.

    2 Mar 2012 Reply
  • Neue_regel_

    I'm gonna see them on 30th of February 2012..NOT.

    18 Nov 2011 Reply
  • nssworld

    Someday I'll tell you are RTF horror story in Feedback Bernie's custom van....

    14 Nov 2011 Reply
  • Fishmonk

    Their music sounds like the score to a Scientologist version of the original star trek.

    21 Aug 2011 Reply
  • idoxcase

    gonna see them in august 1, LAST.FM, Y U NO UPDATE EVENTS

    19 Jul 2011 Reply
  • mrSaxonAcres

    "Vulcan Worlds" is the shit!

    25 Jun 2011 Reply
  • Assedor

    A good fusion of stellar performers!!!!

    16 Jun 2011 Reply
  • myllenadelima

    Fusion To Forever <3

    9 May 2011 Reply
  • ummanturkoglu

    Illest fusion band ever

    17 Apr 2011 Reply
  • handztalkin

    THIS SONG ROCKS>>>>> FOREVER & EVER!!!!~!!!!!!!

    15 Apr 2011 Reply
  • Johnny_Prog

    Best fusion band ever

    13 Apr 2011 Reply
  • reagan0

    Seems like I've been listening to these guys forever. They never grow old -- I do. Love 'em.

    25 Feb 2011 Reply
  • zlaider

    does any one know the name of the rumba which is played on the track opening 77 form their album live????

    17 Jan 2011 Reply
  • mUCUS32

    stanley is the bass

    2 Jan 2011 Reply
  • SaxySid

    Chick Corea and Stanley Clark ftw. I can't really think of a better piano or bass player. Everything's just so goddamn SICK that they put out. Finally just got Hymm of the Seventh Galaxy and Romantic Warrior. Another reason I wish I was this age in 1970.

    22 Dec 2010 Reply
  • floatondc

    simply fantastic band. love every album

    16 Oct 2010 Reply
  • hoerejong

    "Light as a Feather" is such a masterpiece.

    5 Sep 2010 Reply
  • All 132 shouts

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