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Early Days
Jazz · 1989

Early Days

Sharp, exploratory piano trios that capture a master transitioning from hard bop into the avant-garde. It is a cerebral, restless, and deeply rewarding listen.

February 1989 · Lester Recording Catalog

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Early Days is a fascinating departure for those only familiar with Chick Corea's later, more polished fusion work. This is the sound of the piano as a percussive, exploratory tool, where melody is often secondary to rhythmic friction and harmonic discovery. The music feels alive with the nervous energy of the late 1960s, balancing on the knife-edge between the disciplined structures of post-bop and the total freedom of the avant-garde. It is an intellectual listen, demanding your full attention as the trio navigates complex, shifting landscapes.

Moments Worth Listening For
The moment a frantic free-jazz improvisation suddenly locks into a tight, walking bass groove
The crystalline clarity of the piano's upper register during a particularly sparse, rubato solo section
A drum solo that uses silence and space as effectively as the actual rhythmic strikes

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