I published this back in November but I wasnt happy with it so I withdrew the review. I've made a few changes but its basically the same as I wrote before.
You always have to buy the t-shirt at these kinds of things.A great performance though it did suffer a bit from the old anti-climax syndrome, not becaus eit was bad but because I was so hyped up about it that I just kinda blacked out during it :) And I do have to say, the Philip Catherine Trio playing before Touchstone really didnt help, they were super! I was even joking with fellow concert goers before hand, about how the poor warm up act were going to get a luke warm reception. Be Jaysus none of it! People were shouting for more at the end of their hour. They were, also of course, shouting at Corea when he said his wifes name was "Mor-an". A lone reply came from the depts of the crowd, "It's Moran! Bloody americans!", or something similar. Corea was funny though, in an American kinda way.
I bought the back of the t-shirt too!My moment of the night, the point where the hairs started to stand on end, was the first few notes Corea played on grand piano; at that very point it was hit home, without a doubt; this was Chick Corea on stage. Up until that point I wasnt really getting into things. It didnt help that they started off with unreleased songs [from The Ultimate Adventure album] but as soon as he sat down at the piano and started noodling away, the phrasing was unmistakable!
Downer of the night, the
“taberna” drinkers were back but instead of adding to the evening they tempted to cause a riot! I found out that they have this wonderful surround sound system in Cork Opera House, its just that I never knew in the song “Alan Corday” theres a bouncer in the background screaming “I’ll fuck you out on the street if you don’t settle down!”.
Don't worry, the place ended up being packed. This was a good while before the Catherine Trio showed up on stage.Corea was on his Scientology drive throughout the show, but he kept it light hearted. He wasnt so light hearted to the assistant sound man on the side of the stgae though, he kept giving them a vicious sign launguage tongue lashing throughout the night! Corea was constantly demanding the pianos [volume] to be raised or lowered, signaling by means of a few wibbly fingers and explosive pointing movements.
Personally, I was a bit disapointed with the set list. I had my heart set on a few Spanish Heart pieces or La Fiesta at least! There was a lovely sing a long encore though, which I've been told was Rhythm-a-Ning but im convinced it was "Spain". I cant remember being so amazed about the music on the night but the show itself gave me the biggest buzz afterwards. If the Gardai stopped me on the way home they’d have just cause to arrest me on the suspicions of diesel and red bull abuse!
Not a great review but its got a picture at least. Note: The Independent is a rag!
