AKOUSTIC!

With his Elektric Band in full swing, Chick decided to create its perfect complement, this time on the quieter side of things: the Akoustic Band. With John Patitucci on upright bass and Dave Weckl on drums, ‘borrowed’ from the electric lineup, the trio presented a completely new approach in the world of the piano trio. The energetic interplay of all three members brings a beautifully swinging tone to some of the best-known standards from the traditional jazz repertoire. The choice of tunes ranges from Cole Porter and George Gershwin to new Corea compositions, and a new version of “Spain.” The band's debut album was released in 1989 and soon became fans favorite from the Chick Corea catalog. The group was nominated and received the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards. As the critic Daniel Gioffre stated well that “the leader (Corea) is as romantic as ever, playing with bravado even on ballads, flawlessly executing complicated ideas, reveling in drama and melodrama." Although many continued to criticize the rhythm section for being too technical, the record obviously is a well-carved piece of true sophistication. The album undoubtedly offers something for everyone, from the ‘technical’ fans to the more delicate ears and romantic souls. The dynamic interplay between Dave Weckl and John Patitucci lays the foundation for Chick to effectively deploy his array of skills and innovative ideas.

The formation of Chick Corea Akoustic Band was a logical next step in light of the tremendous worldwide response to the Elektric Band's innovative and forward-thinking compositions. “Akoustic Band” was the group's only studio record, the second being a live album from 1991. A combination of standards and original music, it brought the Elektric Band's modern and precise executions to the acoustic trio concept - but with plenty of chemistry and a high degree of improvisation. The audio production on the album may be even better than the music on it. The recording is amazingly clean, and the piano has a rich and warm sound. The drums are recorded and mixed to perfection, so that they sound potent and in-your-face without being overpowering, while Patitucci’s upright bass sounds almost too good to be true. The levels of the individual instruments are just right, leaving no instrument in a dominant position throughout the whole record.. It is a surprisingly crisp and clean sounding album, but never too much so it keeps the warmth all the way through. Highly recommended!