Pianist and arranger John Beasley is best known for his clever big band Monkestra, which gives large ensemble performances by the bop meister Thelonious Monk. Here, with the Franfurt Radio Big Band, he uses the same idea for the Chick Corea Songbook circa Return to Forever, and the results are just as satisfying.
The horns are bold and exciting as they are driven by drummer Jean Paul Hochstadter and bassit Hans Glawischnig, as Beasley and guitarist Martin Scales drive through “Captain Senor Mouse” and Christian Jaksjo/s trombone vies with saxist Oliver Lecht on “Return To Forever”. The reeds get soft and deep as the percolate trombonist Felix Fromm before the rhythm section pops and goes into overdrive on “Space Circus” with some hard rocking hitting the walls on “Vulcan Worlds” Beasley is brilliant throughout, setting a bold buildup on “You’re Everything” before it cools off into a simmering “La Fiesta’ and is playful on a dreamy “No Mystery”. Where have I known this before?