'The Vigil' is the debut album of The Vigil, a quintet led by Chick Corea featuring saxophonist Tim Garland, bassist Hadrien Feraud, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and percussionist Pernell Saturnino. The record presents original compositions by Corea exploring acoustic and electric textures.
Recorded at Mad Hatter Studios in Los Angeles and at Corea's home studio, the album was produced by the pianist himself. The music combines jazz improvisation with complex structures, highlighting tracks like 'Portals to the Past' and 'The Vigil', the latter inspired by a spiritual experience.
Released on May 7, 2013 by Concord Jazz, 'The Vigil' was well received by critics, who praised the group's chemistry and Corea's melodic inventiveness. The album marked the beginning of a new phase in the pianist's career, with a lineup he kept active for several years.