Released: 2022, 2025, Copyright (C) ..
Artists:
- Glenn Zottola; saxophone, trumpet.
- Chick Corea; piano.
- Avishai Cohen; bass.
- Adam Cruz; drums.
- Romero Lubambo; guitar.
- Pamela Driggs; vocals.
Description:
“Chick Corea was my best friend and is dearly missed, but I know he will continue to create as that was his relentless purpose in life.” – Glenn Zottola
Tracks:
- But Not For Me
- Crystal Silence
- Autumn Leaves
- Z-Mother Test Project
- Skylark
- Moog 1 Arp Project
- You Go To My Head
- Gliden Not Haydn
- Bonus track – Crystal Silence
Review:
AAJ Review
By Nicholas F. Mondello
September 10, 2022
With his untimely passing in February 2021, accolades emanated worldwide from musicians, critics and fans about multi-Grammy winner Chick Corea. What was less known then is the fact that Corea and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Glenn Zottola were not only longtime close pals, but frequently interacted musically. The Legend & I is an artistic culmination of that friendship and professional relationship. And, as might be expected from artists of this caliber, the result is spectacular.
The album offers a series of well-known GAS standards mixed with a handful of Corea originals. “But Not for Me” opens the date with a Harmon-muted Zottola buzzing and pianist Corea offering fluttering lines and comps before things open up with fierce drive. That muted texture returns with a driven “Autumn Leaves.” Corea, here as “rhythm section,” is tracked playing marimba, bass, and drums. “Crystal Silence,” the first of the Corea originals, is serene and darker with Zottola’s vibrato-less tenor establishing the mood brilliantly. Electronics are the order with “Z-Mother Test Project” and “MOOG/Arp Project” in which the partners offer frantic ping-ponged sonic wizardry.
Zottola, a scion of a jazz club-owning musical family, has led a lengthy and formidable jazz life with stints with Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Bob Wilber, et al. He has also been a musical director and producer for Suzanne Somers. If he only played trumpet, Zottola’s legacy would be firmly established. A self-taught saxophonist, he is on tenor and alto on this date and has all the goods—chops, lush sound and solid improv technique—to hold court with Corea. “Skylark” and “You Go to My Head” are taken balladic straight with tenor and acoustic piano and are lovely and engaging. Again, these cuts display the creative genius and interplay between these two masters.
The outstanding and swinging rhythm section of Avishai Cohen and Adam Cruz shine bright on the two tracks on which they appear (“But Not for Me,” “Gliden with Haydn”). One wishes that there were more tunes here with this quartet.
What can be said that has not been about Corea? Across the session his playing, both accompanying and soloing, is masterful. It is obvious that he is digging this session. Corea passed while “Crystal Silence” was recorded. A second track of “Crystal Silence” (recorded after Corea’s passing), features vocalist Pamela Driggs, guitarist Romero Lubombo and Zottola and is deeply gorgeous. Kudos to Bernie Kirsh and the production team, as the production values are outstanding.
Corea is a 25-time Grammy winner. The Legend & I might wind up being another. It is that good.
Review of Glenn Zottola and Chick Corea “The Legend and I” by Scott Yanow author of 10 books on Jazz
Glenn Zottola & Chick Corea
The Legend & I
Glenn Zottola, one of the few jazz artists to be equally skilled on trumpet and saxophones (tenor and alto), gained fame in the jazz world during the late 1970s and ‘80s, mostly as a hot swing-based trumpeter. He worked with Bob Wilbur’s Bechet Legacy, led a string of rewarding solo recordings, and along the way played and/or recorded with Benny Goodman, Butch Miles, Peanuts Hucko, Steve Allen, Maxine Sullivan, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims and Joe Williams among others. After working as the musical director for Suzanne Somers (including for her television variety show), he went into semi-retirement but fortunately never stopped playing.
Zottola became very good friends with Chick Corea around 2000 and during the next two decades they frequently jammed together. There was talk of Zottola touring with Corea, but although that never happened, tapes were made of some of their jams. The Legend & I consists of a few of their better collaborations. While some of the performances date back to the early 2000s (the exact dates are not given on the CD), these versions of ‘Skylark,” “Crystal Silence,” “Z-Mother Test Project,” and “Moog 1 Arp Project” are among the very last (possibly the final) recordings made by Corea, who passed away on Feb. 9, 2021.
The set begins with “But Not For Me” as played by the co-leaders plus bassist Avishai Cohen and drummer Adam Cruz. Zottola takes fine solos on both muted trumpet and alto-sax. The duo of Zottola on tenor and Corea perform a rare version of the keyboardist’s classic ballad “Crystal Silence.” “Autumn Leaves” may at first seem conventional with Zottola contributing some fine trumpet, but it also features Corea (via overdubbing) on marimba, bass and drums (each of which he plays quite credibly) rather than piano. “Z-Mother Test Project” finds the co-leaders improvising quite freely and with plenty of energy, clearly having fun in each other’s musical company.
“Skylark” is given a beautiful statement by Zottola on tenor (sounding a bit like Stan Getz) and Corea on acoustic piano. “Mood 1 Arp Project” is another mostly free improv, “You Go To My Head” is a feature for Zottola on tenor while “Gliden Not Haydn” is a high-powered outing for the quartet with Cohen and Cruz. Corea and the rhythm section really push and challenge Zottola who responds with competitive fire on alto and trumpet.
As a bonus track, there is a second version of “Crystal Silence” that was recorded after Corea’s passing. Zottola plays warmly on tenor, guitarist Romero Lubambo provides tasteful accompaniment along with a solo, and Pamela Driggs sings Corea’s rarely-heard lyrics.
It is very good to hear Glenn Zottola back on record again, and to have this final chapter in the remarkable Chick Corea story.