Hollywood Bowl Extravaganza to Reunite Original Members of Return to Forever and All-Star Guests | Sept 2, 2009

Khan (featured on a 1982 Lenny White-produced project, Echoes of an Era, with Corea, Clarke, White, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard) is expected to perform some of her own hits along with Return to Forever classics. Ponty (a key collaborator on Corea’s 1976 classic My Spanish Heart, and with Clarke on 1995’s Rite of Strings) will lend his virtuosic violin playing to the mix.

Connor’s appearance will mark the first performance of Return to Forever’s original electric lineup since 1974. Together they will reprise their dynamic chemistry from the classic album Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy, performing such early RTF material as “Space Circus,” “Captain Señor Mouse” and “Spain.”

“Each one of these very special friends is so important in our musical lives,” says Corea. “Jean-Luc,who helped carve the music of the now legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra inits second incarnation, will join the trio to perform, among other songs, ‘Armando’s Rhumba’ from My Spanish Heart. And we’re very excited to have our old buddy and RTF’s original guitarist, Billy Connors, join us to perform ‘After the Cosmic Rain’ and other songs. And finally, the amazing Chaka Khan will be there to spark the band into who knows what spheres.”

Also appearing at the Hollywood Bowl show is master guitarist John Scofield and the Piety Street Band.