With a family background of Sicilian and Iberian, Chick Corea returns to his dna influences as he revisits material from his classic albums Touchstone and My Spanish Heart. As with all things Corea, these versions are fresh and different from the originals, as the include the vocals of Ruben Blades, Gayle Moran Corea and Maria Bianca as well as the Latin Quarter team of flamenco guitarist Nino Josele, sax/flutist Jorge Pardo, bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, percussionist Luisito Quintero, drummer Marcus Gilmore, a horn section of Michael Rodriguez/tp with Steve Davis/tb and even some exciting footwork by dancer Nino de los Reyes. Oye’!
The horns saunter with a picante salsa along with Rodriguez’s horn on the festive “Antidote” while the Corea and the percussion saunters to Pardo’s flute on “Duende.” Rich voices team with the piano trio, with Blades in passionate voice along beside Ms Corea’s romantic dream on a lovely “My Spanish Heart”. This take of “Armando’s Rhumba” features Corea in a joyful mood on the intro, leading into a late night table dance” while he switches to keyboards to team up with Del Puerto on a sensuous motif of Jobim’s “Desifinado.” Luscious flamenco strings are caressed on “Zyryab” and the dramatic “ The Yellow Nimbus” This album displays as much flavor as any deep dish of paella you’ll ever come across. YUM!