Return to Forever members are: Jean-Luc Ponty, left, Lenny White, Chick Corea, Stanley Clark and Frank Gambale. C. Taylor Crothers, Kimberly Wright, Miles Standish Pettengill III.

August 2011

The band Return to Forever, the heart of which remains keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White, returns to Pittsburgh's Stage AE Sunday with two new members -- violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and guitarist Frank Gambale. Mr. White answers some questions about the reunion.

Return to Forever apparently hadn't played together in decades before reuniting three years ago. What was the impetus for getting back together? Was it easy to slip into the old groove, and what more does each member bring today after so long apart?

White: "People had been asking for 25 years, and I think we finally got the message. I think we needed a bit of encouragement. You never really know how you affect people."

"It's a different band now. The personnel has changed along with the musical attitudes. Jean-Luc and Frank bring their own experiences to the RTF sound and legacy, which affects how we all play. They both were playing with bands that were contemporaries of RTF, so they got a chance to listen to, and not be a part of, for years. Now that they are "a part of," the dynamic is different."

You, Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke released a record, Forever, earlier this year but with a more acoustic instrumentation than was often associated with you. Even though RTF always had an electric sound and has been considered one of the first "fusion" bands, Chick said that it was always rooted in acoustic jazz. How did that evolve and how does it translate?

"Chick, Stanley and myself are a jazz rhythm section -- always have [been] and always will be. The affinity and musical understanding that is involved in this gives us a different perspective on all music we play. This is why RTF, to me, is not a "fusion" band but a "jazz-rock" band. Fusion bands are hybrids of jazz and maybe hint at playing rock. Not RTF -- we play jazz and rock, not half-stepping at all. Those that are deep-rooted in both musical styles know.

RTF in many ways had cult status among music and especially jazz aficionados. How have audiences and critics reacted to the reunion and subsequent tours?

"We played in Germany at a classical festival three weeks ago. This was a festival that featured pianists, virtuoso violinists [et al]. RTF was the only band at the festival, and the only electric band. After the first half of the concert, Chick said to me [that] he thought we were playing a bit reserved. I said [that] it might be due to the fact the audience was in cocktail attire. By the end of the show, all the suits and dresses were up rockin' to "School Days" [a Stanley Clarke tune], a pretty remarkable scene. The festival organizers couldn't stop bestowing accolades about the mix of power and virtuosty."

This edition is considered "Return to Forever IV," which implies a history of rotating personnel. Probably most people remember the classic lineup with Al DiMeola on guitar; however, for this tour the original guitarist, Bill Connors, was supposed to play. Please give us a bit of that history.

"It started with Chick, Stanley, Airto, Flora Purim on vocals, and Joe Farell on sax and flute. Then it went electric with Billy Conners on guitar and, for six months, Steve Gadd on drums. Then I joined the band and we made "Hymn Of The Seventh Galaxy." After a short stint with Earl Klugh on guitar, Al Di Meola joined the band. We recorded "Where Have I Known You Before," "No Mystery" and "Romantic Warrior." In 1976, the electric version of the band broke up. Chick and Stanley included Gail Moran on vocals, Gerry Brown on drums, and added horns for "Musicmagic" and "RTF Live." Now we are at version IV."

What does Jean-Luc Ponty bring, and did he have a connection to RTF? He had worked occasionally with Chick.

"Jean-Luc has history with all of us. We toured together with our separate bands around 1977-78, he recorded "My Spanish Heart" with Chick around the same time period, give or take a few years, Frank was in Jean-Luc's band some time in there, and lastly, he was in a band with Stanley and Al Di Meola called The Rite of Strings. He has history with all of us. Jean-Luc is a virtuoso. He brings great musicality to anything he's involved with."

What should we expect to hear? Classic material? Standards? Any totally new music?

"You will hear all of that. You just have to be on your toes because you'll never know when or how you'll hear it."

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