CHICK COREA — The Mad Hatter (review)

CHICK COREA — The Mad Hatter album cover Album · 1978 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
After Chick Corea's fantastic success of fusion project Return To Forever's early albums and far not so glorious last RTF works, Corea was searching for new ground."The Mad Hatter" comes as really interesting work,very accessible but experimental at the same time. Unfortunately it wasn't noticed in time of release and are underrated till now.

Just imagine how ambitious is a "Alice In Wonderland" theme based project,mixing jazz fusion and opera!And Corea succeeded in it - fantastic melodies, fusion drive and energy fit well with strings and brass orchestration and Gayle Moran vocals (in part jazzy - as on RTF recordings, in part - operatic). Chick uses a huge collection of electric pianos and synthesizers,demonstrating his trade-mark analogue keyboards sounds of mid 70s, deep Eddie Gomez bass should be mentioned separately (Herbie Hancock participated on electric piano as well as Steve Gadd on drums among others).

Possible critical point of view on this release comes from its specific musical genre - far from rock-influenced fusion of RTF, this album is not a post-bop or even third stream of later Corea's works. Recorded in rare genre of its own (I would call it "fusion opera"), this album even being very accessible listening requires open ear listener to be appreciated.But for such fans it is extremely rewarding release.

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