{"product_id":"chick-corea-the-leprechaun","title":"Chick Corea – The Leprechaun","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChick Corea – The Leprechaun\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eReleased in 1976 on Polydor, \u003cem\u003eThe Leprechaun\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the most distinctive albums in Chick Corea's 1970s catalogue. Recorded in New York in 1975 while Corea was still deeply involved with Return To Forever, the album takes his jazz-fusion language in a more elaborate and orchestral direction, combining acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, organ and synthesizers with brass, strings, bass, drums and vocals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eCorea produced, arranged and orchestrated the album himself, with an impressive ensemble including Steve Gadd on drums, Eddie Gomez and Anthony Jackson on bass, Joe Farrell on reeds, and Gayle Moran on vocals. The horn and string sections add a chamber-music quality to the record, while Corea's extensive use of electronic keyboards gives the music a distinctly futuristic 1970s character. The result is jazz fusion that can move effortlessly between delicate piano passages, synthesizer textures, intricate ensemble arrangements and more energetic rhythmic sections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe album has an almost fantastical, storybook atmosphere. “Imp's Welcome” opens with atmospheric keyboards before “Lenore” and the brief “Reverie” introduce a more lyrical side of Corea's writing. “Looking At The World” features Gayle Moran's vocals, while the lively “Nite Sprite” brings Joe Farrell's reeds into the foreground. “Soft And Gentle”, written by Moran, provides another softer, more vocal-oriented moment before the playful “Pixiland Rag” leads into the album's centrepiece, the 13-minute “Leprechaun's Dream”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe long closing piece is particularly representative of the album's ambition, bringing together Corea's keyboards, rhythm section, reeds, brass and strings into an extended piece of progressive jazz-fusion. \u003cem\u003eThe Leprechaun\u003c\/em\u003e was subsequently recognised with two Grammy Awards, including Best Jazz Performance by a Group and Best Instrumental Arrangement for “Leprechaun's Dream”, underlining its importance within Corea's highly productive 1970s period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eFor collectors of Chick Corea, jazz fusion, Return To Forever, progressive jazz and 1970s electronic keyboards, \u003cem\u003eThe Leprechaun\u003c\/em\u003e is an especially rewarding album. Its combination of jazz improvisation, sophisticated orchestration, analogue synthesizers and whimsical fantasy themes makes it a fascinating companion to Corea's other major 1970s projects, including \u003cem\u003eMy Spanish Heart\u003c\/em\u003e and Return To Forever's \u003cem\u003eRomantic Warrior\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImp's Welcome – 2:55\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLenore – 3:25\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverie – 1:58\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLooking At The World – 5:29\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNite Sprite – 4:31\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoft And Gentle – 5:08\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePixiland Rag – 1:10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeprechaun's Dream – 13:03\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4FDT7pq-M8k?si=WvAv9DEF60iz2in6\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Polydor Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55620053565782,"sku":"2391 217","price":12.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_f3af133a-f3ca-4f0c-a573-1a2726c0feca.jpg?v=1791298541","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/chick-corea-the-leprechaun","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}