The real treat for Return To Forever fans comes in the first half of the first CD with the rhythmic heart of the band running through extended acoustic versions of classic songs that marked their first coming together: Corea, as you'd expect, is assertive and questing on ‘On Green Dolphin Street’, but also light and dancing on ‘Waltz For Debby’ (ah, how may the world have been different if Clarke had taken up the offer to join Bill Evans). But this is no nostalgic re-run of old chestnuts. White is fresh and concise in jazz mode, notably on the inevitably revived ‘Senor Mouse’ while Clarke contributes the gorgeous new ballad ‘La Cancion De Sofia’. Did we need the second CD? Getting the elusive Connors on board is a coup, but he occasionally sounds uneasy with a Les Paul in his mits, though he and Ponty rip through the lumbering ‘Space Circus’ with some vim. Chaka Khan's vocals know no bounds and this appearance revives her partnership with White from the 1980s, but, irrepressible as she is, you need to be a generous soul to live with the sprawl that is the ensemble take on ‘I Loves You Porgy’. But full marks for energy and a go-for-it attitude.

Jazzwise talks to Lenny White about the album

This shouldn't have been an acoustic recording at all?

We were actually going out as an electric trio and on the day we were leaving Chick rang to say “Let's go out as an acoustic”. So we dropped all our electric kit and that's what we did.

Typical Chick?

Chick's a true artist. He's always into change and it's a testament to the three of us musicians that we can turn on a dime like that.

But Al Di Meola wasn't ever part of the plan?

The situation was back in 1972 I'd worked with Chick on Bitches Brew, and me and Stanley had been in Joe Henderson's band, and then we'd gone on to play as an acoustic trio at Keystone Korner. And that's what we wanted to acknowledge when we went out this time as a jazz’ trio.

Although at the end of Keystone Korner residency two guitarists sat in with you?

Of course, Billy Connors sat in with us and that was the beginning of the jazz-rock incarnation of RTF. But me and Stanley had always been a jazz rhythm section. That's what you get with us. I've always felt comfortable around a smaller (drum) kit: that's what I grew up with, and I appreciate the discipline and musicality it brings…

But the second CD is more electric – and re-unites you with Connors? He's been playing principally arch top and acoustic since RTF?

Yeah; we asked him to play electric. He hadn't been playing for a while and there was a health issue around whether he could play a whole tour…

Great to hear Chaka Khan; you've always enjoyed vocals on your projects: what's next for you?

I'm working on something very different with Letizia Gambi, a Neapolitan singer Gil Goldstein, Wallace Roney, Gato Barbieri are on board and there's Björk and Prince covers but it's a lot about taking Neapolitan songs and putting them into a different kind of place…

What does Al Di Meola think of you going into Neapolitan territory?

[A chuckle] Time I was going, it's been great talking.