TheDrumland.Com

           Chick Corea Elektric Band / Live

        Foro Italico Central Tennis Stadium

                      Rome - 7/18/2003

Check out the sound-check photo gallery here

This is the story of a very special day I lived yesterday in Rome, regarding the Chick Corea Elektric Band gig they played tonight. The day begun with a phone call by Chick's road manager that informed me that Dave Weckl accepted my request for an interview (for the magazine Percussioni), and that he will wait for me at 4 pm in the lobby of the hotel. Ok, I drove to the hotel and met Dave; he was in real good shape and he's been really friendly with me. We made a great interview and he talked a lot with me about his career and his life in a way I can't describe. We ended up laughing and telling stories even after I turned off the recorder. Then he invited me at the sound check with the band and this makes me really happy. We took the bus and arrived at this beautiful place in Rome where I saw a lot of gigs in the past. Dave started tuning the drums and setting up other things and then he started to play while I was around him shooting a lot of photos I have here and that I will show you soon. Sometimes I had to stop shooting pics because I was enchanted looking at what he was playing! After Chick arrived, and the full band started to play several tracks, when, all of a sudden, Chick told to the band that he wanted to play Make a Wish (one of my favourites CCEB tracks). Guys, the band played it and I've got a great emotion on my skin, in my heart and in my soul and I don't know if I'm able to describe it the way it was; it's really hard. Anyway, it was the best sound check I've ever seen and heard in my life. After, we had dinner together and I was at the table with Chick, Frank Gambale, Mike Pope and another friend. The mood was incredible, joyous and relaxed and we made jokes all the time and laughed so much. So, after, they gave me an Access All Areas pass, and then we moved to the stage and the gig started.

From the first note of Rumble I understood what kind of gig we should have seen because the band was in great shape and they completely floored the audience. Not to mention that they had Bernie Kirsch on sound board; infact, the sound in the audience was really beautiful, one of the best I've ever heard. After, came Trance Dance from the EOTB cd, that started with Mike Pope in trouble with the electronic of his bass, while the band played a long and great improvised intro in support of this problem. The beautiful Eternal Child came right after and the emotion was really great again. Dave played in an unbelievable way from the 1st note and he only changed is left crash cymbal with a ride cymbal (a prototype I saw at the sound check) for C.T.A. and then he left it there 'til the end of the gig. Then they called the 1st break and the 2nd set begun with an incredible rendition of ..... Make a Wish! They started playing it and the audience gone completely nuts, including me. After this, they played Blue Miles and Weckl really burned on the ending solo they added. The 2nd set ended with a version of Got a Match that I really can't describe. Frank and Dave played it like it was the last thing they were doing in their life, with also Chick and Dave that played a great duet. Guys, it was like I was looking at two pieces of music history talkin' between themselves! They saluted the crowd and after they came back on stage again and played the 1st encore that was a long and great version of Spain. At this point people was thinking the show was over but..... they were wrong! The band came out on the stage for the 2nd encore and played Light Years. At the end, Dave came out of his drumset with a little jump, smiling and embracing his bandmates. This was really beautiful to see. They realized that they had a special night and they were so happy that I think the people felt it without a doubt. Tonight Dave played in an superb way, and a lot of times I found myself smilin' at what he was doing.

He's absolutely one of the greatest drummer of our times and absolutely one of my favourites. Right after this, we met in the dressing room and again the mood was great and I saw them really, really happy. At this point, it was really late at night and the band had to go. I saluted the rest of the band and after, Dave saluted me with a big smile, telling me a lot of beautiful things. This was the perfected ending, I could never ask for more.

Again, thanks Dave, Chick, Frank and all the guys for these great and unbelievable emotions.

Copyright © 2001-2005 Robertopeland. All rights reserved.
Best viewed in IE5+ 800x600 32bit colors.


		Chick Corea Elektric Band / Live Foro Italico Central Tennis Stadium Rome - 7/18/2003 Check out the sound-check photo gallery here This is the story of a very special day I lived yesterday in Rome, regarding the Chick Corea Elektric Band gig they played tonight. The day begun with a phone call by Chick's road manager that informed me that Dave Weckl accepted my request for an interview (for the magazine Percussioni), and that he will wait for me at 4 pm in the lobby of the hotel. Ok, I drove to the hotel and met Dave; he was in real good shape and he's been really friendly with me. We made a great interview and he talked a lot with me about his career and his life in a way I can't describe. We ended up laughing and telling stories even after I turned off the recorder. Then he invited me at the sound check with the band and this makes me really happy. We took the bus and arrived at this beautiful place in Rome where I saw a lot of gigs in the past. Dave started tuning the drums and setting up other things and then he started to play while I was around him shooting a lot of photos I have here and that I will show you soon. Sometimes I had to stop shooting pics because I was enchanted looking at what he was playing! After Chick arrived, and the full band started to play several tracks, when, all of a sudden, Chick told to the band that he wanted to play Make a Wish (one of my favourites CCEB tracks). Guys, the band played it and I've got a great emotion on my skin, in my heart and in my soul and I don't know if I'm able to describe it the way it was; it's really hard. Anyway, it was the best sound check I've ever seen and heard in my life. After, we had dinner together and I was at the table with Chick, Frank Gambale, Mike Pope and another friend. The mood was incredible, joyous and relaxed and we made jokes all the time and laughed so much. So, after, they gave me an Access All Areas pass, and then we moved to the stage and the gig started. From the first note of Rumble I understood what kind of gig we should have seen because the band was in great shape and they completely floored the audience. Not to mention that they had Bernie Kirsch on sound board; infact, the sound in the audience was really beautiful, one of the best I've ever heard. After, came Trance Dance from the EOTB cd, that started with Mike Pope in trouble with the electronic of his bass, while the band played a long and great improvised intro in support of this problem. The beautiful Eternal Child came right after and the emotion was really great again. Dave played in an unbelievable way from the 1st note and he only changed is left crash cymbal with a ride cymbal (a prototype I saw at the sound check) for C.T.A. and then he left it there 'til the end of the gig. Then they called the 1st break and the 2nd set begun with an incredible rendition of ..... Make a Wish! They started playing it and the audience gone completely nuts, including me. After this, they played Blue Miles and Weckl really burned on the ending solo they added. The 2nd set ended with a version of Got a Match that I really can't describe. Frank and Dave played it like it was the last thing they were doing in their life, with also Chick and Dave that played a great duet. Guys, it was like I was looking at two pieces of music history talkin' between themselves! They saluted the crowd and after they came back on stage again and played the 1st encore that was a long and great version of Spain. At this point people was thinking the show was over but..... they were wrong! The band came out on the stage for the 2nd encore and played Light Years. At the end, Dave came out of his drumset with a little jump, smiling and embracing his bandmates. This was really beautiful to see. They realized that they had a special night and they were so happy that I think the people felt it without a doubt. Tonight Dave played in an superb way, and a lot of times I found myself smilin' at what he was doing. He's absolutely one of the greatest drummer of our times and absolutely one of my favourites. Right after this, we met in the dressing room and again the mood was great and I saw them really, really happy. At this point, it was really late at night and the band had to go. I saluted the rest of the band and after, Dave saluted me with a big smile, telling me a lot of beautiful things. This was the perfected ending, I could never ask for more. Again, thanks Dave, Chick, Frank and all the guys for these great and unbelievable emotions. Copyright © 2001-2005 Robertopeland. All rights reserved. Best viewed in IE5+ 800x600 32bit colors.