The Guitar Channel

Current Listening

Frequency (Prashant Aswani)

A collection of great rock instrumentals written and recorded by Prashant Aswani for television and film soundtrack licensing. Aswani's playing is killer as always. Includes drummers Joey Heredia and Jose Pasillas.

Return To Forever - The Mothership Returns

Double Live RTFIV release with bonus DVD featuring a documentary, live performances, and more. Loaded with great Frank Gambale moments.

Renegade Creation - Bullet

Follow-up to the band's killer 2010 debut. More great writing, playing, and to-die-for guitar tones from Michael Landau and Robben Ford.

Spectrum Road

Tribute to legendary drummer Tony Williams' classic Lifetime bands. Features Vernon Reid, Jack Bruce, Cindy Blackman and John Medeski. Awesome throwback fusion. This album has turned me into a big Vernon Reid fan.

Bruce Forman Trio - Formanism

Great straight-ahead jazz disc. Guitarist Forman is fun and lyrical throughout.

Mike Stern - All Over The Place

Stern's latest is loaded with great writing, killer lines, and a who's-who list of top bass players that includes Anthony Jackson, Will Lee, Victor Wooten, Esperanza Spalding and others.

Video: Return to Forever with Jimmy Herring - Live in Atlanta "School Days"

I know... lots of videos lately, but I couldn't pass this up. This is Jimmy Herring sitting in with Return to Forever on "School Days" in Atlanta last night. Jimmy is a little low in the mix at first, but they bring him up after about a minute. With Chick Corea on keys, Lenny White on drums, Stanley Clarke on bass, Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, and Frank Gambale on guitar. Here is the same tune from another angle.

Video: Frank Gambale with Return To Forever

Cool D'Addario video of Frank Gambale with Return To Forever.

Jimmy Herring to sit in with Return To Forever in Atlanta on Sept 8th

NEWS FLASH: According to Jimmy Herring's official Facebook page, Herring will appear as a special guest with Return To Forever in Atlanta on Sept 8th.

Current Listening (and Viewing)

Some of the stuff I've been digging lately...

Brett Garsed - Dark Matter

Killer modern fusion album with a strong prog influence. Incredible playing from all involved, especially Garsed and bassist Ric Fierabracci. Look for a full review soon.

Corea, Clarke & White - Forever

Two disc set features Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke & Lenny White in an acoustic trio setting, plus Return To Forever studio rehearsals from 2009 with Bill Connors on guitar.

Johnny Hiland - All Fired Up

Loaded with insane chops and fun tunes. Hiland is one of the best country pickers around.

Chad Wackerman - Legs Eleven

This one is several years old but I've had it on heavy rotation lately. Exceptional writing and production. Great guitar work from James Muller also.

Gannin Arnold - 5 World Class Drummers [DVD]

Features Arnold playing with drummers Taylor Hawkins, Jimmy Chamberlain, Simon Phillips, Terry Bozzio and Gary Novak to demonstrate their varying styles. The bonus disc includes interviews and extra footage.

JazzTimes Review of Return to Forever IV Montreal Jazz Festival Performance

Russ Davis from MoJa Radio and JazzTimes has written a great review of Return to Forever IV's performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

JazzTimes - Day One in Montreal: Return To Forever IV!

Return to Forever IV - M&T Jazz Fest Review at Syracuse.com

Syracuse.com has a review and pics of last night's Return to Forever IV performance at the M&T Jazz Fest.

Syracuse.com: Stars of Return to Forever IV close M&T Jazz Fest with shining set

 

Return To Forever IV US Tour Dates with Zappa Plays Zappa

Return To Forever IV will embark on a 32-city US tour this summer with special guest Zappa Plays Zappa. See below for the full list of 2011 RTF IV tour dates and venues, including dates for the band's European tour. RTF IV features Chick Corea on piano and keys, Lenny White on drums, Stanley Clarke on bass, Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, and Frank Gambale on guitar.

 

 

 

Return To Forever IV 2011 Tour Dates

24 June     NORTHAMPTON, MA     Calvin Theater                        
25 June     SYRACUSE, NY     Syracuse Jazz Festival    
26 June     MONTREAL, QC     Montreal Jazz Festival                        
27 June     OTTAWA, ON     Ottawa Jazz Festival                        
28 June     TORONTO, ON     Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival                        
1 July         BERLIN, GERMANY     Zitadelle                        
2 July         HAMBURG, GERMANY     Stadtpark                        
3 July         NECKARSULM, GERMANY     Audi Forum                        
4 July         MUNICH, GERMANY     Small Tollwood Arena                        
5 July         KRAKOW, POLAND     Hala Wisly                        
7 July         VIENNE, FRANCE     Vienne Jazz Festival                        
8 July         ROTTERDAM, NL     North Sea Jazz Festival                        
9 July         PARIS, FRANCE     Olympia                        
10 July     GENT, BELGIUM     Gent Jazz Festival                        
11 July     DUISBURG, GERMANY     Piano Festival Ruhr                        
12 July     MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND     Montreux Jazz Festival                        
14 July     SETE, FRANCE     Theatre de la Mer
15 July     AOSTA, ITALY     Bard Fortress                        
16 July     PESCARA, ITALY     Pescara Jazz Festival                        
17 July     ROVINJ, CROATIA     Park Forrest                        
20 July     BASTIA, CORSICA, FRANCE     Theatre de Verdure                        
22 July     MADRID, SPAIN     Puerta del Angel                        
23 July     SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN     Kursaal Auditorium                        
26 July     MARSEILLE, FRANCE     Marseille Jazz Festival                        
28 July     SAN FELIU, SPAIN                            
29 July     MARCIAC, FRANCE     Marciac Jazz Festival                        
1 August     TEL AVIV, ISRAEL     Casesaria Amphitheatre

US Tour with Zappa Plays Zappa               
7 August     PITTSBURGH, PA     Stage AE    
8 August     BUFFALO, NY     UB Center for the Arts                         
9 August     BALTIMORE, MD     Merriweather Post Pavilion    
10 August     PHILADELPHIA, PA     Mann Center                         
11 August     BOSTON, MA     Bank of America Pavilion    
12 August     NEW YORK, NY     The Beacon Theatre
13 August     NEW YORK, NY     The Beacon Theatre                         
16 August     COLUMBUS, OH     LC Pavilion    
17 August     CLEVELAND, OH     State Theatre                         
18 August     CINCINNATI, OH     PNC Pavilion    
19 August     DETROIT, MI     Meadowbrook   
20 August     CHICAGO, IL     Horseshoe Casino    
21 August     INDIANAPOLIS, IN     The Murat                         
22 August     NASHVILLE, TN     Schermerhorn Symphony Center                         
24 August     MINNEAPOLIS, MN     Orpheum Theatre                         
25 August     ST. LOUIS, MO     Fox Theatre                         
26 August     KANSAS CITY, MO     Midland Theatre                         
27 August     DENVER, CO     Paramount Theatre                         
28 August     SALT LAKE CITY, UT     Red Butte Garden                         
8 September     ATLANTA, GA     Fox Theatre                         
9 September     ORLANDO, FL     House of Blues        
10 September     BOCA RATON, FL     Mizner Park Amphitheatre      
11 September     CLEARWATER, FL     Ruth Eckerd Hall                         
13 September     AUSTIN, TX     Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theatre            
14 September     GRAND PRAIRIE, TX     Verizon Theatre                         
15 September     HOUSTON, TX     Verizon Wireless Theatre             
17 September     MESA, AZ     Mesa Arts Center                         
19 September     SAN DIEGO, CA     Humphrey’s                         
20 September     LOS ANGELES, CA     Greek Theatre                         
21 September     DAVIS, CA     Mondavi Center                         
22 September     SAN FRANCISCO, CA     Warfield Theatre                         
23 September     EUGENE, OR     Hult Center    
24 September     SEATTLE, WA     Paramount Theatre

2-10 October     JAPAN

Frank Gambale Interview for I Heart Guitar

I Heart Guitar has a short but sweet interview up with Frank Gambale. Gambale discusses his new gear, and his new gig with Return To Forever IV.

 

I Heart Guitar: Interview - Frank Gambale

Frank Gambale Joins Return To Forever - 2011 Tour Dates Scheduled for Australia

Guitarist Frank Gambale has joined Return To Forever. The new lineup - dubbed Return To Forever IV - features Chick Corea on piano and keys, Lenny White on drums, Stanley Clarke on bass, Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, and Gambale on guitar. The band currrently has the following live dates scheduled for Australia in 2011:

02/11/2011 - 02/13/2011  Regent Theatre - Melbourne VIC Australia
   
02/15/2011 - 02/16/2011  Opera House Concert Hall - Bennelong Point Sydney NSW Australia

According to Gambale's tour page, more RTFIV dates are in the works for the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan as well.

Check out the video below for some great footage of Gambale jamming with the band, and more info on the new lineup.

Return to Forever IV: Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy Tour 2011 from CoreaCrew on Vimeo.

Bill Connors to join Corea, Clarke, & White at the Hollywood Bowl

Yes... it's true. Bill Connors, one of my all-time favorite guitarists, will rejoin his former Return To Forever bandmates Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White for a show at the Hollywood Bowl on September 2nd. This will be the first show of a fall tour for Corea, Clarke, and White. From the All About Jazz article:

"It's official: pianist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White will be joined September 2nd by guest guitarist Bill Connors at the Hollywood Bowl kick-off gig of their fall tour. The band, now billed as Corea, Clarke & White, will also be joined by legendary violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and song stylist Chaka Khan.

Inspired by what his friend and fellow Miles Davis alumnus John McLaughlin was doing with Mahavishnu Orchestra, Corea originally brought Connors extraordinarily expressive electric guitar skills into the band in 1973 so that Return To Forever could musically “make your hair move." As, indeed, they did. A long-time fan favorite among early jazz-rock fusion fans, Connors will join his former band mates when they open their tour at the storied Highland Ave. arena in Los Angeles."

Purchase tickets to the Corea, Clarke, Corea, and Connors Hollywood Bowl show

RTF back in the day...

Return to Forever DVD reviewed at All About Jazz

John Kelman from All About Jazz has a nice write-up on the new Return to Forever DVD Returns: Live at Montreux 2008.

All About Jazz Review: Return to Forever - Returns: Live at Montreux 2008 DVD