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Chick Corea& John McLaughlinFive Peace Band LiveCONCORD 31397AAAAThere’s something for everyonein this generous sonicsouvenir of the world tour ofthe one-time-only supergroupassembled by leadersChick Corea and John McLaughlin. The twodisclive set taken from the band’s Europeantour offers two hours of stylistically diverse butuniformly superlative music as it segues fromfull-band fusion fireworks to a delicate duet on astandard to impassioned blowing sessions andeven some avant-garde experimentation. Throwin a guest appearance of historic importance andFive Peace Band Live delivers a substantial jazzexperience of unusual quantity and quality.In the more than four decades that havepassed since Corea and McLaughlin workedtogether, they had never combined their talentsin a touring group until the Five Peace Band project.They apparently wanted to make up for losttime as they attempt to demonstrate the fulldepth and diversity of their expertise by not onlyvisiting the past and present of fusion but alsodelving into samba, bebop and several unusualhues of blues.With alto saxist Kenny Garrett, a fellowMiles Davis alumnus, the band was intended tobe an improv unit, as its temporary nature wouldimply. It is, however, a tribute to the leaders, butespecially to the rhythm section of bassistChristian McBride and drummer VinnieColaiuta, that the live music doesn’t sound likejust a high-level jam session.The peripatetic Corea, seemingly involved ina major new project every year, provides morepiano than usual, while McLaughlin’s playingretains its precise velocity even as his work hasevolved to include silence as well as speed.Half the songs are more than 20 minuteslong, and all of them (with the exception of theglorious duet finale) offer at least a dozen minutesof music. Fusion fans expecting little morethan greatest hits from the past will be surprisedby the forward-looking nature of the majority ofthe material, as well as by its diversity. Threecontemporary McLaughlin compositions andtwo by Corea, who also contributes an arrangementof Jackie McLean’s “Dr. Jackle,” whereinMcBride delivers a breath-taking bass solo, providethe core of the concert.Garrett, who distinguishes himself on everysong, shines especially bright on McLaughlin’s“New Blues, Old Bruise,” a tune that also servesas a Colaiuta feature. But it is in the rapid-fire,three-way trading on “Señor C.S.” that he leavesno doubt his role in the band is that of an equal.Corea’s “Hymn To Andromeda,” ushered inquietly with just piano and bowed bass, is theset’s most ambitious and extended selection.The excitement of the new dominates the setbut it is the sublime satisfactionof the old that is most rewarding.Herbie Hancock joins the bandfor a fascinating 20-minuterevisit to the Davis era as theband navigates “In A SilentWay” and “It’s About ThatTime” with more creative confidenceand seasoned sensibilitiesthan in their youthful days.The concert closer, a brilliantly nuancedand beautifully performed Corea/McLaughlinduet rendition of “Someday My Prince WillCome,” is a far cry from the frenetic full bandopener “Raju” and serves as a fitting and properdenouement for the proceedings.—Michael PointFive Peace Band Live: Disc 1—Raju; New Blues, Old Bruise; HymnTo Andromeda (68:01). Disc 2—Dr. Jackle; Señor C.S.; In a SilentWay/It’s About That Time; Someday My Prince Will Come (71:06).Personnel: Chick Corea, piano and keyboards; John McLaughlin,guitar; Kenny Garrett, saxophone; Christian McBride, acoustic andelectric bass; Vinnie Colaiuta, drums; Herbie Hancock, piano (7).»Ordering info: concordmusicgroup.com