Return to Forever returns again

Chick Corea. Lenny White. Stanley Clarke. The core of the legendary Return to Forever, now joined by Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Gambale as Return to Forever IV, played Meadowbrook Friday. What a band, and what a show. I was a big Weather Report fan and a huge Jaco fan, but RTF was BURNING. They wowed the crowd. Great tunes like Chick Corea's "Spain" and Stanley Clarke's magnum opus "School Days" alongside RTF classics like "Romantic Warrior" and "The Sorceress" - it don't get no better.

Jean-Luc Ponty was a great addition to the band. Having played with Clarke and former RTF guitarist Al Di Meola on The Rite of Strings and in Mahavishnu Orchestra, he's familiar with a role of featured soloist as well as leading his own fusion groups. He effortlessly switched back and forth from electric violin to amplified acoustic.

And make no mistake, this is one wicked fusion band. Corea was dynamic and affable, Clarke was on fire, and drummer White was pounding the skins like there was no tomorrow. The newcomers, Ponty and guitarist Gambale, were perfect in their roles, though Gambale could have been more prominent in the mix.

The crowd helped launch them into the stratosphere. The all-but-sold-out crowd was on its feet from the start, and with good reason. Corea hasn't slowed down a lick, despite pushing 70 around. The maestro, as Clarke referred to him, kept things rolling along. The acoustic numbers were just as energetic as the electric ones. Gambale was especially brilliant here.

The band is ostensibly touring behind Forever, the 2-CD set comprised mostly of acoustic trio performances along with contributions from guests Ponty, Chaka Khan and original RTF guitarist Bill Connors. This tour was originally supposed to include Connors, but Gambale was a felicitous choice in his stead. Forever is a fabulous disc, but how about a new Return to Forever CD? Hopefully the band goes into the studio to cut some new material. And if that's the case, how 'bout including a bonus disc from this tour? I know RTF released Returns two years ago, a two-disc concert performance of the quartet tour from 2008 with Di Meola, but adding some of this fabulous, flashy set would be a highlight. If your doubt, check Youtube.

Opener Zappa Plays Zappa was fine and the Zappa fans in the audience were enthused. I was, well, less so as it reminded me of why I wasn't a Zappa fan. Too little melody, and the vocals were contrived rather than musical. But there was no doubting the mettle of the players, especially Frank's little boy Dweezil. It would be great to hear him ripping away on originals, but he's dedicated to preserving Frank's legacy. So be it.