JAZZ REVIEWS : Corea’s New Elektric Band Loose, Airy

Chick Corea is back.

For the past several years, the acclaimed keyboardist’s Elektric Band, though powered by first-rate musicians, offered overly written compositions and frenetic performances that often resembled the most unattractive elements of the jazz/fusion period.

Corea dissolved that unit last year and has re-emerged with the Elektric Band II, a bang-up group that is every bit a jazz unit and is comprised of Mike Miller (guitar), lone holdover Eric Marienthal (saxes), Jimmy Earl (bass) and the protean Gary Novak (drums).

For the new band, the 52-year-old Corea has concocted music that is loose, airy and structured--music that sways and struts like James Brown dancing with a purpose.

Making its L.A.-area debut Friday at the Strand (it also performed Saturday at the Coach House), the Elektric Band II sounded terrific on a variety of material.

Jimmy Heath’s be-bop opus, “C.T.A.,” was outfitted with a flaming funky beat, which Novak, the band’s spark-plug, played so fervently his sticks sometimes blurred.

“Ished” found the band members issuing solos filled with notes that swirled wildly like leaves tossed about by a whirlwind, while “Tone Poem” explored the leader’s proclivity for subtlety and dynamics--some passages were whisper soft.