Chick Corea
's
Elektric Band II
found bassist
John Patitucci
, drummer
Dave Weckl
and guitarist
Frank Gambale
going out on their own and being replaced by
Jimmy Earl
,
Gary Novak
and
Mike Miller
. Saxophonist
Eric Marienthal
was the only sideman from the first
Elektric Band
to stick with
Corea
. Although the new members are not as distinctive as their predecessors, the high-quality material played on this release (which includes
Jimmy Heath
"CTA,"
"Blue Miles" and a variety of
originals) is very jazz-oriented and occasionally there are straightahead sections. This set is recommended even to listeners who have not yet acquired a taste for fusion. ~ Scott Yanow