Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner - Chick Corea (1976) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)

Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner by Chick Corea.

This is a compilation that plays like a treasure map, a record whose very title reads as a summit of modern piano masters. Assembled by Ilhan Mimaroglu, it gathers sessions spanning nearly a decade, drawing from the Vortex and Embryo catalogs and reaching into previously unreleased vault material. The result is a collection that traces the language of the jazz keyboard across shifting rooms, engineers, and eras.

Side A opens with two pieces, "Margot" and "Love No. 1," recorded on December 21, 1966 at A & R Studios in New York, produced by George Avakian with Phil Ramone at the board. These tracks originally appeared on the Vortex LP 2006 credited to Keith Jarrett, and they carry the exploratory energy of that late-sixties New York scene. The engineering pedigree alone, with Ramone capturing the room, signals the care taken in preserving these performances.

The side continues with "Tones For Joan's Bones" and "This Is New," the latter drawn from the score to "Lady In The Dark." Both were recorded on November 30 and December 1, 1966 at Atlantic Studios in New York, engineered by Phil Iehle and produced by Herbie Mann. Sourced from the Vortex LP 2004 issued under Chick Corea's name, these are the cornerstone selections that anchor the entire compilation to Corea's early recorded voice.

Flip to Side B and the timeline bends backward. "Lazy Bird" and "In Your Own Sweet Way," recorded on October 24, 1960 at Atlantic Recording Studios in New York City, arrive here as previously unreleased performances, produced by Nesuhi Ertegun and engineered by the legendary Tom Dowd. That these sat in the vault for years only deepens their appeal for the serious collector; hearing Dowd's hand on a set of standards like these is a genuine event.

The record closes with "Einbahnstrasse" and "Doom," recorded on October 7, 1969 at A & R Studios in New York City and drawn from the Embryo LP 521 credited to Ron Carter. Engineered by David Greene and produced by Herbie Mann, these later sides bring the collection into the end of the decade, rounding out a journey that moves through multiple studios and sensibilities without losing its thread.

Part of the pleasure here lies in the packaging as well, with art direction from Abie Sussman and Bob Defrin and illustration by the iconic Milton Glaser. It is a compiler's labor of love, a cross section of piano jazz pulled from Atlantic's family of labels and presented as a single, coherent statement. For anyone chasing the roots of these keyboard giants, this is a record that rewards close listening from first groove to last.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Margot
A2. Love No. 1
A3. Tones For Joan's Bones
A4. This Is New (From "Lady In The Dark")
B1. Lazy Bird
B2. In Your Own Sweet Way
B3. Einbahnstrasse
B4. Doom

Credits:
Abie Sussman - Art Direction
Bob Defrin - Art Direction
Ilhan Mimaroglu - Compiled By
David Greene - Engineer [Recording Engineer] (B3, B4)
Phil Iehle - Engineer [Recording Engineer] (A3, A4)
Phil Ramone - Engineer [Recording Engineer] (A1, A2)
Tom Dowd - Engineer [Recording Engineer] (B1, B2)
Milton Glaser - Illustration
George Avakian - Producer (A1, A2)
Herbie Mann - Producer (A3, A4, B3, B4)
Nesuhi Ertegun - Producer (B1, B2)

Notes:
Tracks A1 & A2 Recorded on December 21, 1966 at A & R Studios, New York, N.Y. From Vortex LP 2006 Keith Jarrett "[r2511568]"
Tracks A3 & A4 Recorded on November 30 and December 1, 1966 at Atlantic Studios, New York, N.Y. From Vortex LP 2004 Chick Corea "[r5417384]"
Tracks B1 & B2 Recorded on October 24, 1960, at Atlantic Recording Studios, N.Y.C. Previously unreleased
Tracks B3 & B4 Recorded on October 7, 1969 at A & R Studios, N.Y.C. From Embryo LP 521 Ron Carter "[r558484]"

Artist: Chick Corea

Supporting Artists: Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Atlantic

Catalog Number: SD 1696

Release Year: 1976

Country: United States

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)