SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHICK COREA – TRILOGY (DELUXE EDITION)

CHICK COREA
TRILOGY (DELUXE EDITION)
CONCORD JAZZ

Originally released in 2013 and 2019, respectively, Trilogy and Trilogy 2 are a pair of modern jazz masterpieces from Chick Corea and his magnificent trio, consisting of drummer Brian Blade and bassist Christian McBride. Recorded live at performances Washington, DC, and Oakland, CA, and in Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Turkey, and Japan, both albums won the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. Now, pressed on vinyl for the very first time, the two albums have been collected in a deluxe boxset titled Trilogy. Collecting the 29 songs of the two records across eight LP’s, the collection is paired with a book that includes exclusive photos, liner notes by Mill Milkowski, and essays from Corea, Blade, and McBride. The Trilogy Deluxe Vinyl Boxset is limited to only one thousand copies.  Comprised of over five hours of music, Trilogy is an essential latter career celebration of the legendary legacy of the late jazz giant, Corea.

Trilogy opens with the titular first of its two albums, which sees Corea, McBride, and Blade soar through a series of jazz standards, alongside a handful of Corea originals. Starting with a 12-min rendition of “You’re My Everything”, the quality of Corea’s trio is made immediately clear, especially Blade, who plays with rhythms, pulse, feel, and dynamics masterfully; so much so, that he can accent an entire musical phrase with a single, well-placed rim shot on the snare. Blade and McBride are able to support Corea in a way that few others could. The musicality of this trio is matched by their chemistry as the lead is seamlessly passed from one musician to another with the utmost ease. Of the Corea originals, “Spain”, with its adaptation of flamenco guitar and its sprawling cinematic feel, stands for its incredibly ambitious and compositional nature, something that Corea manages to keep rooted in a jazzy and improvisational feel. Additionally, the Latin rhythms of “Recorda Me”, the balladry of “My Foolish Heart”, and a pair of Thelonious Monk tunes, “Work” and “Blue Monk” stand as highlights among a very strong opening half.

Similarly, the second half of the deluxe boxset that is made up of Trilogy 2, is a masterclass in jazz performance as Corea and his trio eb and flow among modulating melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structures. Opening with a lengthy piano introduction on “How Deep Is The Ocean”, Corea flexes his signature classic influences and approach to the instrument, something that has made his approach to jazz unique. While this can be heard echoing throughout all of Trilogy, it is also very apparent on “500 Miles High” – which also features a stunning solo from Corea. His style delivers an unmatched sense of beauty to whatever he plays. Tracks that shine bright on the second half include “Crepuscule With Nellie”, “La Fiesta”, “All Blues”, and a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”.

Between these two albums, the greatness of Corea is on full display, making Triology a far more encompassing musical experience that paints a complete image of the artistry and musicality of Corea’s latter career. Furthermore, with McBride and Blade, Corea’s trio make for one of the greatest eras in his career, and can stand alongside some of the strongest jazz trios ever. The Trilogy Deluxe Vinyl Boxset is both a remarkable reminder as to the brilliance of Corea and a true celebration of his work that makes for an enriching musical experience.

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