Chick Corea - The Leprechaun (1975)

Frilly, fantastical, synth-y fusion from the one and only Chick Corea. The Leprechaun is certainly not Corea's most essential recording -- anyone looking for that might look into Tones for Joan's Bones or Light As a Feather -- but I just picked it up on vinyl and it's an absolute delight to listen to, so it's what y'all are getting.

Track listing:
1. Imp's Welcome
2. Lenore
3. Reverie
4. Looking at the World
5. Nite Sprite
6. Soft and Gentle
7. Pixiland Rag
8. Leprechaun's Dream

What game shall we play today?

For more super-sweet fusion, check out:

Grover Washington Jr. -
Mister Magic (1976)

Ian Carr's Nucleus -
Out of the Long Dark (1978)

Wayne Shorter - Super Nova (1969)

Excellent, adventurous album led by saxophone great Wayne Shorter, who I was just talking about. A highly diverse set, ranging from frantically energetic fusion that borders on free jazz ("Supernova", "More Than Human") to relatively straightforward hard bop ("Water Babies") to reflective and low-key ("Sweet Pea".) Atop all of these great moments, though, rests the album's centerpiece and undeniable highlight -- "Dindi", a mind-melting journey from clattering percussion and nervous, sparse melodic elements to a gentle, acoustic-led Portuguese ballad, then back out through explosive, climactic full band improvisation. Features John McLaughlin, among others.

Track listing:
1. Supernova
2. Sweet Pea
3. Dindi
4. Water Babies
5. Capricorn
6. More Than Human

Wild flower