Chick Corea – The Montreux Years (2xLP)

The Montreux Years by Chick Corea is an exceptional retrospective that weaves together seven live performances recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1981 and 2010. This curated set offers a vivid portrait of Corea’s musical evolution, showcasing his virtuosity, compositional imagination, and seamless transitions across acoustic trio, Elektric Band, and orchestral settings. Each track—from the electric energy of “Fingerprints” to the poignant lyricism of “America” with the Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic—highlights Corea’s dynamic range as both a performer and a bandleader.

The album serves not just as a collection of live recordings but as a celebration of Corea’s deep connection to the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he performed multiple times over four decades. The sound across performances remains remarkably consistent and clear, thanks to high-quality mastering on this 180g vinyl set, preserving the intimacy and immediacy of each concert. Whether it’s the introspective interplay in solo or trio settings or the driving grooves of his bands, this compilation captures Corea’s enduring creativity and influence in the jazz world.