CHICK COREA – Circling In (2LP-1975)

Label: Blue Note – BN-LA472-H2

Series: The Blue Note Re-Issue Series –

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1975

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation

Art Direction, Design – Bob Cato

Engineer – Tony May

Liner Notes – Stanley Crouch

Producer [Original Sessions] – Sonny Lester

Reissue Produced For Release By – Michael Cuscuna

Supervised By [Project Director Blue Note Re-issue Series] – Charlie Lourie

Matrix / Runout (Side 1 runouts): BN-LA472-1- UA

Matrix / Runout (Side 2 runouts): BN-LA472-2 UA

Matrix / Runout (Side 3 runouts): BN-LA472-3- UA

Matrix / Runout (Side 4 runouts): BN-LA472-4-X UA

Tracklist:

A1 - Bossa .......................................................................................... 4:45

A2 - Gemini ........................................................................................ 4:17

A3 - My One And Only Love .............................................................. 3:33

A4 - Fragments ................................................................................... 4:01

A5 - Windows ..................................................................................... 3:08

B1 - Samba Yanta .............................................................................. 2:40

B2 - I Don't Know ............................................................................... 2:39

B3 - Pannonica ................................................................................... 2:58

B4 - Blues Connotation ...................................................................... 7:17

B5 - Duet For Bass And Piano No.1 .................................................. 3:28

B6 - Duet For Bass And Piano No.2 .................................................. 1:40

C1 - Starp ........................................................................................... 5:20

C2 - 73º-A.Kelvin ................................................................................ 9:09

C3 - Ballad .......................................................................................... 6:41

D1 - Danse For Clarinet And Piano No.1 ........................................... 2:14

D2 - Danse For Clarinet And Piano No.2 ........................................... 2:32

D3 - Chimes Part 1 ........................................................................... 10:20

D4 - Chimes Part 2 ............................................................................. 6:40

Written-By – A. Braxton (tracks: C2 to D4), C. Corea (tracks: A1, A2, A4 to B2, B5, B6, C3 to D4), D. Holland (tracks: B5 to C1, C3, D3, D4)

Tracks A1 to B3 recorded in New York in May, 1968.

Track B4 recorded in New York on April 7, 1970.

Tracks B5, B6, D1 to D4 recorded in New York on Oct 13, 1970.

Tracks C1 to C3 recorded in New York on Oct. 19, 1970.

Personnel:

Chick Corea – piano (all tracks); celeste, vibes, percussion (tracks: B5, B6, D1 to D4)

Miroslav Vitous – bass (tracks: A1 to B3)

Dave Holland – bass (tracks: B4 to D4); cello, guitar (tracks: B5 to D4)

Anthony Braxton – clarinet, alto saxophone (tracks: B5 to D4);

                                contrabass clarinet (tracks: B5, B6, D1 to D4); flute (tracks: C1 to C3)

Roy Haynes – drums, percussion (tracks: A1 to B3)

Barry Altschul – drums, percussion (tracks: B4, C1 to C3)

Notes:

This version has 'Chick Corea' written in bright yellow on the front cover, as opposed to the green writing on Chick Corea - Circling In. Label variation with white "b".

Circling In is a double LP by jazz pianist Chick Corea featuring performances recorded between 1968 and 1970, including the first recordings by the group Circle, which was first released on the Blue Note label in 1975.  It contains trio performances by Corea with Miroslav Vitous, and Roy Haynes recorded in March 1968, and performances by permutations of the band Circle recorded in April and October 1970 some of which were later released as Early Circle.

This out-of-print double LP, all of the contents, gives one a clear picture into the evolution of pianist Chick Corea during the 1968-70 period. The first eight tracks, trio music with bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes from 1968, finds Corea stretching the boundaries of straightahead jazz, taking advanced solos that hint at the avant-garde and displaying his early distinctive style. Much of the rest of this two-fer features the rather radical group Circle with Corea joined by the masterful reed player Anthony Braxton, bassist Dave Holland and, on some tracks, drummer Barry Altschul for some very advanced group improvising. Music strictly for those with open ears.

(Review by Scott Yanow)

“Circling In” is one of those thrown together albums made up of different recording sessions, and because of that it doesn’t get a lot of attention, which is a real shame because this is actually one of the better Chick Corea LPs out there. Chick has stated that sometime in the early 70s he decided to change his approach to the piano in an attempt to ‘communicate’ better with the audience. Fortunately, all of the recordings on “Circling In” come from that time before his conscious change and feature the young fiery Chick Corea who combined elements of Monk, Cecil Taylor, Eddie Palmieri and Bill Evans into one of the most notable piano styles of the late 60s. Certainly Corea continued to be a great player for the rest of his career, but his early playing will always be his best.

Side one opens this double LP set with recordings recorded in New York in May, 1968 with Roy Haynes on drums and Mirsolav Vitous on bass.  Generally these tunes are of the modern post bop variety that move in and out of free sections. The material ranges from an imaginative reading of “My One and Only Love”, to the more fragmented and dissonant “Gemini”. Side two continues with the same trio until we hit “Blues Connotation”, a fierce outside hard bop number with Dave Holland on bass and Barry Altschul on drums. The rest of side two, as well as sides three and four are filled with recordings by Corea’s short lived avant-garde group, Circle recorded in New York on October, 13. and 19. 1970.

In keeping with the spirit of this album being an overlooked gem, the group Circle is one of the more under appreciated ensembles to ever play improvised music. The music they present on this album ranges from blistering free jazz assaults, to carefully constructed pieces that recall leading 60s concert hall composers such as Berio, Boulez and Stockhausen. Having the multi-talented Anthony Braxton on board doesn’t hurt as he and Corea both are able to easily move from the bar-room world of jazz to the highest of academia without any loss of integrity. Every track by Circle has its own unique flavor and vision, and often their performance carries a sense of de-constructive humor as well.

This was one of the first jazz albums I ever bought and still gladly listen, I love this Blue Note series, has a special charm. Chick was just a different pianist at this time, and after he decided to change his approach, I eventually lost interest in his playing. Because “Circling In” is a mixed bag, it does not command a high price. I would imagine some might prefer the post bop styled cuts with Roy Haynes, while others might prefer the more avant-garde Circle, but really, every track on here is excellent.

Enjoy!

If you find it, buy this album!