snobb After Chick Corea's fantastic success of fusion project Return To Forever's early albums and far not so glorious last RTF works, Corea was searching for new ground."The Mad Hatter" comes as really interesting work,very accessible but experimental at the same time. Unfortunately it wasn't noticed in time of release and are underrated till now.

Just imagine how ambitious is a "Alice In Wonderland" theme based project,mixing jazz fusion and opera!And Corea succeeded in it - fantastic melodies, fusion drive and energy fit well with strings and brass orchestration and Gayle Moran vocals (in part jazzy - as on RTF recordings, in part - operatic). Chick uses a huge collection of electric pianos and synthesizers,demonstrating his trade-mark analogue keyboards sounds of mid 70s, deep Eddie Gomez bass should be mentioned separately (Herbie Hancock participated on electric piano as well as Steve Gadd on drums among others).

Possible critical point of view on this release comes from its specific musical genre - far from rock-influenced fusion of RTF, this album is not a post-bop or even third stream of later Corea's works. Recorded in rare genre of its own (I would call it "fusion opera"), this album even being very accessible listening requires open ear listener to be appreciated.But for such fans it is extremely rewarding release.

gatot If you want to know how great Chick Corea composed his music, go straight to track number 8 of this album "Dear Alice". Well, you may want to start with track 7 as opener for better enjoyment of Dear Alice. Oh man ...I think this is the best jazz music composition that I have ever found on planet earth which really blew me away at first listen when I got the cassette version by the time it was released in 1978. The first time I had this album I was only interested to play Tweedle Dum and Dear Alice only because it's really great and fulfill my taste.

Tweedle Dum is basically an atmospheric intro which features mostly Gayle Moran's great vocal combined with string section. But at the end of this short track there is a very wonderful piano fills by Corea that remarks the great intro of Dear Alice. Dear Alice enters seamlessly right after Tweedle Dum finishes. It's really a wonderful transition and I really enjoy this transistion from Tweedle Dum to Dear Alice.

Dear Alice starts off with a memorable piano fills by Chick Corea in an ambient way followed nicely with acoustic bass solo. Oh an ...it's really a nice combined work of bass and piano (that plays at background). Drums starts to enter the scene, making the music in a jazz beat mood while acoustic bass still play its role in very inventive way - sort of going crazy really. The piano than wraps up the nice intro followed with great voice of Gayle "Good afternoon my dear Alice. Please don't think I have malice ....." ...oh man ... it's really great and I bet you love this part! The brass section then enters the music that is now moving in a nice crescendo with relatively fast tempo. Sometimes it changes to staccato mood when brass section plays their part. The flute then plays as soloist while at the background there are bass, drum, and piano that do not seem to play in the same direction but combined together they form a very beautiful harmony. The music is quite complex but it delivers great melody as well as harmony. And now Chick's turn to play his piano solo augmented by great brass section works. At approx minute 7:32 - 10:02 there is a segment where all instruments, especially bass, drums and piano that play in different direction but still deliver wonderful composition. Oh my God ....!!!! I cannot believe human being can create such a great composition like this one! AT the end of the track I usually replay the track again, starting from Tweedle Dum.

Sorry for writing so long only to appreciate those two tracks. It does not mean the other tracks are not good. The Woods, Humpty Dumpty and The Mad Hatter Rhapsody are good tracks. But Dear Alice is the best composition that Chick has ever made altogether with Compadres of Touchstone album. Dear Alice deserves a flawless composition - a true FIVE STAR composition. Overall, this album deserves four stars.

Gatot Widayanto