Chick Corea - Sometime Ago: Live in Germany 1972 / 2CD set

Since his passing in 2021, the loss of illustrious pianist Chick Corea has been felt deeply across the jazz community. Encompassing a diverse range of genres, Corea’s output spanned the free jazz and post-bop scenes, intimate solo piano and Latin jazz, not to mention the leading figure he became during the fusion movement of the 1970s and 1980s…

But it's his stripped-back and intimate side that takes the spotlight today for our Recording of the Week, with an expressive and well-preserved live recording from the 1970s released for the very first time in its original form. Recorded at the height of his remarkable creative ascent, Sometime Ago: Live in Germany 1972 is a solo concert at Sendesaal concert hall, Germany, and presents Corea alone at the piano drawing together compositions that would become some of the most enduring works of his catalogue. Much more than a historical gem, it’s a revealing portrait of the pianist testing ideas in the present moment, allowing compositions to evolve freely, and responding spontaneously to interactions with his audience.

The qualities that define Corea’s playing (namely his warmth combined with innate technical skill) are beautifully represented here, and the absence of a band places every nuance of his playing under the spotlight. Between pieces, he speaks candidly to the audience, introducing each composition with brief anecdotes that enhance the recording no end and contribute greatly to the overall listening experience. Plus, the programme spans much of Corea's repertoire from the period, putting a unique spin on well-known classic Corea tunes in this live context.

Opening with ‘Noon Song’, Corea establishes the atmosphere immediately. Delicate motifs gradually blossom into flowing passages, and the technical precision of the melodic lines never compromises lyrical integrity. It expands on the studio recording considerably, racking up a solid ten minutes of exploration and improvisation. ‘Song for Sally’ is a colourful piece that charts light and dark tonal shades, pitting them against one another flawlessly. Effortlessly elegant, but always hinting at something edgier underneath, this one highlights a rhythmic playfulness that underpins even Corea’s most reflective writing.

Wayne Shorter’s tune ‘Masqualero’ is strident with its angular themes, introducing a keener sense of momentum and some more adventurous harmonic detours, while the following ‘Children's Song No. 1’ is a lyrical delight. The disarmingly simple melody floats over the repeating left-hand ostinato, and is performed with great sensitivity.

Later in the album is the expansive fourteen-minute (and immensely enjoyable) rendition of ‘Sometime Ago’, where Corea embarks on an extended improvisation that reshapes familiar motifs with complete command. It provides the perfect gateway for a jubilant closing performance of ‘La Fiesta’, with the unmistakable Latin flavour of the piece serving as a joyful conclusion to a virtuosic and intimate live concert.

More than fifty years after it was recorded, Sometime Ago: Live in Germany 1972 stands as both an invaluable archival release and a compelling listening experience in its own right. Stripped of elaborate production and ensemble interplay, Corea's extraordinary imagination completely takes centre stage. Intimate, inventive and endlessly engaging, this is Chick Corea at his finest – and certainly serves as a welcome reminder of his genius and enduring legacy.