Review” Return to Forever

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 The list of sonic innovations that jazz-rock fusion supergroup Return to Forever introduced into popular culture during the 1970s could fill a book. In this day and age of faux reunions, for keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al DiMeola and drummer Lenny White—all of whom have founded and led numerous bands in the twenty-five years since RTF—coming together for a tour is a major event and Chicago, a city vital in the development of the original lineup (a 1970s “Soundstage” taped here helped establish the national reputation of the band that its chops were, indeed, for real) is a major stop on this whirlwind tour. Happily, so much time has passed that there is nothing left to prove for these guys, and the result is more music making and less virtuosity for its own sake. Return to Forever was always best as a live band, so it’s great that much group material that hasn’t been heard since the group played together is dominating the set lists, but not as a mere exercise in nostalgia but as a springboard for a contemporary take on the same repertoire. (Dennis Polkow)