Search - Chick Corea, Hiromi :: Duet: Chick & Hiromi

A wonderful concert

Music maven | Amherst, MA | 02/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Apparently Chick Corea and Hiromi push each other's creative buttons. Corea is always reliable, but on this recording he sounds like he's 25 again. And Hiromi rose to the challenge of playing with such a legend. What's surprising is how seamless their playing is. Individually they have very distinctive approaches to the piano, but here they often sound like one person with four hands.



Not every cut is equally bracing. There are a few that sound more like the players are coasting through old standards, but many of the pieces here are surprisingly bold, thorny, and out on the edge (which is just the way I like it). At times they sound like Cecil Taylor, which is quite welcome, but very surprising. "Spain" hasn't sounded this fresh in decades. What's perhaps most notable about the performance is the communication and interplay between Corea and Hiromi. They're playing in hair-trigger mode all the time, following each other's lead so instantaneously that at times it seems as though they're playing written-out parts in unison (though this happens in such unlikely places that you know it is in fact improvised). And that kind of super-alert attitude gives all the playing a tremendous immediacy and vitality. All in all a very rewarding CD."

Beyond Legendary

Howard M. Edwards | 02/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To use the word legendary, when speaking of Hiromi or Chick, is to use a word that is not strong enough. These are simply the best pianists and writers alive. Period. And to put them together is a magical musical event. I have owned the Japanese version of this CD for some time now, and it is one that a person can listen to time after time after time, and continue to be amazed. I will not be at all surprised to see Chick and Hiromi at the 2010 Grammys, accepting an award for FOOL ON THE HILL. Thank you, Hiromi, and thank you, Chick, for this beautiful gift to Earth."

A conversations between two pianos

S. Ohayon | 04/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The conversation between Chick and Hiromi on the piano is amazing. Watching the actual show on youtube gives you a better idea how this phenomenal conversation takes place. Sometimes Chick leads and Hiromi follows, while at other times Hiromi is challenging Chick with fast transitions.



One of the best albums I have recently listened to."