Return To Forever Announces US Tour Dates with Zappa Plays Zappa

Return to Forever has announced the their US dates to their World Tour, which will span August and September. Bass giant Stanley Clarke, who turns 60 in June, will be joining returning members Chick Corea and Lenny White as well as new members Frank Gambale and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty for the trek with the band, dubbed “Return to Forever IV”.

Clarke says the shows will be packed with fan favorites.

“I’ve enjoyed going to shows with bands like Earth, Wind & Fire — they can go from one song to the next, non stop for two hours plus, with each song strongly resonating with the audience,” he said. “With this version of RTF and its legacy songbook, along with individual members’ solo tunes, this is one of the few bands of our genre that can sustain a show like that. Seemed like a fun thing to do. There’ll be some new stuff too, which keeps it all fresh and moving forward.”

As if Return to Forever IV wasn’t enough of a draw, the tour will include Zappa Plays Zappa, led by Frank Zappa’s son Dweezil and held down by bassist Pete Griffin. The band is a tribute to the late Zappa, and keeps his music alive through performance.

Return to Forever IV US Tour Dates:

• August 7, 2011: Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
• August 8, 2011: Buffalo, NY – UAB Center for the Arts
• August 9, 2011: Baltimore, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
• August 10, 2011: Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
• August 11, 2011: Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
• August 12, 2011: New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
• August 13, 2011: New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
• August 16, 2011: Columbus, OH – The Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
• August 17, 2011: Cleveland, OH – State Theatre
• August 18, 2011: Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
• August 19, 2011: Detroit, MI – MeadowBrook Music Festival
• August 20, 2011: Chicago, IL – The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino
• August 21, 2011: Indianapolis, IN – The Murat
• August 22, 2011: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
• August 24, 2011: Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
• August 25, 2011: St. Louis, MO – Fabulous Fox Theatre
• August 26, 2011: Kansas City, MO – The Midland By AMC
• August 27, 2011: Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
• August 28, 2011: Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden
• September 8, 2011: Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
• September 9, 2011: Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
• September 10, 2011: Boca Raton, FL – Mizner Park Amphitheatre
• September 11, 2011: Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
• September 13, 2011: Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
• September 14, 2011: Grand Prairie, TX – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
• September 15, 2011: Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
• September 17, 2011: Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
• September 19, 2011: San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s By the Bay
• September 20, 2011: Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
• September 21, 2011: Davis, CA – Mondavi Center
• September 22, 2011: San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre
• September 23, 2011: Eugene, OR – Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center
• September 24, 2011: Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre