Chick Corea Elektric Band Inside Out 2LP

For the Elektric Band's fourth outing, Chick Corea - the venerated 27-time Grammy winner and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master - decided to push the envelope even further then on previous albums. Writing for the band's individual strengths, Corea went full throttle on Inside Out.

Here we find the Elektric Band engaging in uptempo burners, prog-rock fantasia, Latin-tinged grooves and the kind of complex and characteristic tight harmonies and unisons that characterized Corea's earlier compositions of 1970s.

There are highly orchestrated aesthetic pieces like "Make a Wish, Part 1," "Stretch It, Part 1," the driving, Latinesque swinger of "Make a Wish, Part 2," the intricate stop-time vehicle "Kicker" and the epic 20-minute, four part suite, "Tales of Daring." Notably one of Corea's most complex and demanding compositions.

Originally released in the midst of the CD explosion, Corea took full advantage of the increased running time the format offered. With vinyl in decline, songs were cut from the track lists in order to fit on the original single LP vinyl release. At last this album has been restored to its original running order, as the artist intended.

Produced by Corea, with longtime engineering partner Bernie Kirsch, the album features detailed liner notes by jazz writer Bill Milkowski, giving context and explicit technical notes to the listening experience.

With John Patitucci (arguably jazz's top electric bassist) and drummer Dave Weckl pushing the ensemble, this pacesetting fusion unit is heard at its peak on these Corea originals.