Lyric Suite for Sextet cover

Lyric Suite for Sextet

Chick Corea · 1983

39 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A vibrant tapestry of avant-garde jazz woven with intricate melodies and rhythmic complexity that challenges conventional forms.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Part 1 - Overture Start here — The opening piece sets the tone for the entire suite, showcasing intricate arrangements and a blend of lyrical themes that recur throughout the album.
  • →
    Part 5 - Brasilia — This track stands out with its vibrant rhythms and melodic motifs that evoke the spirit of Brazilian music, demonstrating Corea's ability to fuse diverse influences seamlessly.
  • →
    Part 6 - Dream — A lengthy exploration of themes, this track highlights Corea's ability to create atmospheric soundscapes while pushing the boundaries of improvisation within structured compositions.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
75 /100
Alpine
Higher than 98% of albums we've rated

The album showcases complex structures and seamless integration of jazz and classical elements, making it distinctive in its approach.

What we noticed

  • The album consists of seven distinct parts, each with its own thematic material and rhythmic structure, creating a narrative flow throughout.
  • The final track resolves the suite with a return to motifs introduced earlier, providing a sense of closure while maintaining an avant-garde feel.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
9/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady unfolding musical narratives
  • thoughtful moments of reflection
  • dynamic interplay among musicians
  • immersive listening in sequence

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer straightforward, catchy tunes
  • want quick, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

Themes
Brazilian rhythms· avant-garde improvisation· lyrical interplay
Career context
By 1983, Chick Corea was well-established as a leading figure in jazz, following his significant contributions to the genre since the late 1960s. 'Lyric Suite for Sextet' came after his acclaimed album 'My Spanish Heart' and marked a continued exploration of ensemble interplay and compositional sophistication, showcasing his evolution from electric fusion to more acoustic-oriented works.
Stylistic neighbors
Herbie Hancock· Keith Jarrett· McCoy Tyner

Tracklist

  • 1 Part 1 - Overture Start here 6:27
  • 2 Part 2 - Waltz 7:14
  • 3 Part 3 - Sketch (For Thelonious Monk) 2:14
  • 4 Part 4 - Roller Coaster 1:28
  • 5 Part 5 - Brasilia 8:02
  • 6 Part 6 - Dream 10:38
  • 7 Part 7 - Finale 3:52

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata