Personnel: Chick Corea (piano); Tim Garland (flute, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone); Steve Davis (trombone); Marcus Gilmore (drums). Liner Note Author: Chick Corea. Recording information: Manhattan Center Studios, NYC. Photographer: John Rogers . The two-disc Corea: The Continents Concerto for Jazz Quintet and Chamber Orchestra features pianist Chick Corea performing with his combo and orchestra. The first disc features Corea's six-part composition conceptualized around Africa, the Americas, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe. While Corea's small group features such players as trombonist Steve Davis, saxophonist Tim Garland, bassist Hans Glawischnig, and drummer Marcus Gilmore, Corea is also backed by a handpicked orchestra conducted by Steve Mercurio and including members of the Harlem String Quartet and Imani Winds. This is truly a forward-thinking ensemble that can deftly fuse intricately arranged orchestral passages with more improvisatory jazz sections. The second disc features an extended solo piano series as well as several standards featuring Corea and his small group. ~ Matt Collar
