Romantic Warrior
Romantic Warrior gives Return to Forever's technical jazz-rock a strong sense of character. Chick Corea's keyboards lead the arrangements, with Al Di Meola's guitar adding a harder edge. Stanley Clarke and Lenny White keep the rhythm active enough to make the intricate writing move. The music is elaborate, but the best passages are playful as well as impressive.
Medieval Overture establishes that approach with bright keyboard lines and frequent changes of direction. The drums remain busy without breaking the piece into unrelated parts. Guitar adds weight to the arrangement, while the recurring musical ideas help the performance keep its shape.
Sorceress moves towards funk. Bass and drums give the piece a firm rhythmic centre, leaving space for the keyboards to work around it. The groove provides a welcome change from the more tightly packed sections elsewhere. Its appeal comes from the way the musicians fit together rather than from any one display of speed.
The Romantic Warrior creates a different setting through its acoustic piano. The playing has room to breathe, and the changes of instrumental focus feel connected to the wider arrangement. The quieter sound also brings out the care in the melody. It is an important contrast to the record's more forceful electric passages.
Majestic Dance puts the guitar further forward and uses a more direct rock approach. Some of the keyboard interruptions can make the movement feel awkward, though. The Magician has impressive bass playing and attractive softer details, but its separate ideas do not always form an equally convincing whole.
Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant restores a stronger balance. The shifts between tension and a more relaxed theme give the extended performance a useful centre. The ensemble remains forceful, yet the changing ideas have a clearer relationship to one another.
The record can be busy, and its playful complexity will not work for every listener. Even so, the combination of strong rhythm, vivid instrumental colours and carefully shaped passages gives it lasting appeal. Romantic Warrior is most effective when its considerable skill serves the character of the music.
