Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Return To Forever
Label: Columbia Records
Released: 1976
Running time: 45:28
Rating: 5/5
The cult album »Romantic Warrior«, a masterful document of pure jazz fusion, was the last act of the classic Return To Forever lineup, which, under the watchful lead of keyboard wizard Chick Corea, also featured guitar grandmaster Al Di Meola, bass wonder-worker Stanley Clark and drum champion Lenny White. With its two previous outings, »Where Have I Known You Before« (1974) and »No Mystery« (1975), this lineup had quickly established itself as the most exciting jazz fusion outfit of its day, with only two bands posing serious competition: Weather Report, who were just then entering their most successful period after the arrival of the extraordinary Jaco Pastorius, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra, who had already bowed out of the scene by then.
Return To Forever were at their creative peak in 1976, although even while »Romantic Warrior« was being made, it was clear to plenty of people that the young guitar genius Al Di Meola, who was barely 21 at the time, wouldn’t stick around in the band much longer and would sooner or later strike out on his own. Di Meola got a huge amount of room on »Romantic Warrior« for his always thrilling, often ‘supersonic’ and electrified guitar solos, which went on to inspire plenty of rockers, while Corea, who never hid the influence of Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk and Béla Bartók, reached a new level of sophisticated keyboard playing after pulling off some outstanding arrangements that effortlessly conjure up an atmosphere of medieval mysticism, fantasy and romance. By this stage of the band, Clarke and White had long formed a dream rhythm duo, providing wonderfully varied support for Al’s and Chick’s virtuosic antics.
»Romantic Warrior«, which was much less funk-driven and more prog-rock-oriented than its predecessor »No Mystery«, featured six instrumental treats tied together by medieval song titles and matching motifs and ambience. The album opens with the spirited »Medival Overture«, made up of countless melodic motifs, while Al amuses himself with a bunch of dynamic riffs and Chick toys around with some wonderfully witty synth textures. After the opening number, which reflects the ambient spirit of the whole album, comes the somewhat looser »Sorceress«, where White takes the central compositional role. The drum maestro doesn’t hold back on the most dynamic transitions he can muster, while Di Meola opts for a slightly funkier approach to his riffs here.
The title track, which features a long improvisational intro, is fully acoustic, while every member of the band then gets a chance for a solo spot. On the electrified, almost rockish yet seriously playful »Majestic Dance«, Al gives his fingers a proper workout on the guitar strings and tops it all off with a closing distorted solo, while on »The Magician« Clarke comes alive with fiery bass improvisations. The closing epic masterpiece, »Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (Part I and Part II)«, is built on a powerful central melody that, after numerous turbulent improvisational whirlwinds, reaches its final peak with Chick’s gutsy solo.
»Romantic Warrior« is an album that still thrills today with its romantic atmosphere, compositional vision, and wildly successful blend of jazz and rock elements. In many ways it can be seen as a bridge between jazz fusion and progressive rock, since in places it comes very close to what the likes of King Crimson, UK, ELP or Yes were doing in the seventies. No wonder, then, that on release it won over plenty of eclectic rock fans too, and most people rightly consider it Return To Forever’s finest achievement. Sadly, the legendary group never again managed to make anything in the studio that came close in quality. Soon after »Romantic Warrior« came out, Corea decided the classic lineup had passed its expiration date, so he and Clarke built a completely new and very different version of the band, which lasted only for one last studio album, »Musicmagic« (1977), and a farewell (though not final) tour.
Lineup
Chick Corea – keyboards
Al Di Meola – guitar
Stanley Clarke – bass guitar
Lenny White – drums, percussion
Production
Chick Corea
Track list
1. Medieval Overture (5:14)
2. Sorceress (7:34)
3. The Romantic Warrior (10:52)
4. Majestic Dance (5:01)
5. The Magician (5:29)
6. Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (Part I & Part II) (11:26)
