Written by Jim Bille
Sep 15, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Chic Corea, Lenny White and Stanley Clarke returned to Houston a couple of weeks ago with their latest version of Return to Forever. The current incarnation of this jazz fusion powerhouse, Return to Forever IV, features Frank Gambale on guitar and violin virtuoso Jean Luc Ponty.

This line up thrilled the starving Houston jazz lovers with yet another historic performance. I say another because the reunited Return to Forever featuring Al DiMeola passed through town a few years back and set us all on our ears then but this line up may be even more special considering the addition of Ponty and Gambale.

Without a doubt Jean Luc Ponty is the jazz violinist of all violinists. Even today after 40 some years in the spotlight no one can approach the virtuosity of this master. His addition to Return to Forever is brilliant.

Guitarist extraordinaire Frank Gambale has joined forces with Chic Corea previously as a member of the Elektric Band. Now with RTF-IV, Gambale has really stepped things up. His unique approach to playing is amazing especially when incorporating a guitar style known as sweep picking.

The evening’s performance not only highlighted some of the best material from Return to Forever but featured music from Jean Luc Ponty’s and Stanley Clarke’s solo efforts. Ponty’s ethereal masterpiece, “Renaissance”, was performed impeccably. Clarke’s “School Days” was the encore number that punctuated the whole show.

Other numbers featured included a reworking of Return to Forever’s ‘Senior Mouse, this one was heavily infused with Ponty’s addictive and melodic violin playing and was one of the many highlights of the show.

Lenny White’s, “The Shadow of Lo” and “Sorceress” was also featured as well as Corea’s classic “Romantic Warrior”.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen two incredible and stellar performances from Return to Forever here in Houston and hope to see many more.

I’m not much on tribute bands but when it comes to a ‘like father like son’ show called Zappa plays Zappa you have to love it.

Dweezil Zappa and his tribute show to his father Frank Zappa have been opening for RTF-IV on the U.S. leg of their world tour to much fan fare. It was actually a nice fit since the elder Zappa collaborated with at least one of RTF’s members, Jean Luc Ponty. Some of the performances on this tour have actually featured Ponty and Corea sitting in with ZpZ on a few numbers. To bad the Houston crowd wasn’t on the list for this treat the other night.

It’s not like young Zappa needed the help or support anyway. His tight band offered up faithful renditions of his dad’s music. Zappa’s guitar playing was brilliant but two members of his ensemble really stood out for me. The first being Scheila Gonzalez on saxophone, flute and keyboards not to mention some really great vocal work. The second was the main vocalist, Ben Thomas. Thomas’s vocal style, delivery and sound was almost a dead ringer for Frank Zappa.

Songs featured included “Dancin Fool”, “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?”, “Montana”, “City of Tiny Lights”, “Big Swifty”, and of course “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”.

Two great acts like this are not often featured on the same bill. What luck for the Houston crowd and anyone else attending Return to Ever IV down the road…….great stuff!!