From straight ahead to avant-garde, bebop to fusion, children’s songs to chamber music, along with some far-reaching forays into symphonic works, Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring. A tirelessly creative spirit, Chick continues to forge ahead, continually reinventing himself in the process.
Since embarking on a solo career in 1966, Chick has been at the forefront of jazz, both as a renowned pianist forging new ground with his acoustic jazz bands and as an innovative electric keyboardist with Return to Forever and the Elektric Band.
Chick Corea was born in 1941 in Massachusetts. From an early age, he worked with great players, such as Stan Getz and Herbie Mann. In 1968, he joined Miles Davis, eventually replacing Herbie Hancock on the keyboards. He worked with Davis during an important transition period for Davis, as he started incorporating electronic instruments and rock-fusion into his music. Corea played on many important Davis recordings, such as Bitches Brew, In a Silent Way, Live/Evil, and On the Corner. He left Davis and started playing Avante Garde style jazz in the quartet Circle (with Anthony Braxton, Barry Altschul, and Dave Holland). In 1971, he changed directions, musically, again and formed his own group Return to Forever.They started off playing a jazz-Latin fusion, but he later changed sidemen and brought Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, and Al DiMeola, and they became a high-energy rock-fusion band. Return to Forever broke up in the late Seventies, and Corea used the name when playing some big gigs with Clarke. Members of Return to Forever IV, described as the definitive jazz/rock fusion ensemble, are today violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, drummer Lenny White, keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and guitarist Frank Gambale During the early Eighties, Corea recorded with many different musicians, such as Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Miraslav Vitous, and Herbie Hancock. In 1985, Corea formed another fusion band, The Elektrik band, featuring John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, and Frank Gambale. A few years later, he formed The Akoustic Band, a trio between himself, Weckl, and Patitucci. Patitucci left in the early 90s to headline his own groups, and Corea has used different players and has made more piano (versus electric keyboard) recordings.
Return Foerever IV-
Chick Corea & Gary Burton : Hot House Tour
Chick and Gary Burton are touring in 2012. They perform material from their new album Hot House, exploring their unique takes on “standards” – by composers from Kurt Weill and Antonio Carlos Jobim to Thelonious Monk and Lennon & McCartney. The multiple Grammy-winning duo also adds the Harlem String Quartet on select dates, expanding their legendary chamber-jazz repertoire on Chick’s composition “Mozart Goes Dancing” and classic Chick & Gary tunes.
Further Explorations .
Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez and Paul Motian “further explore” legend Bill Evan’s piano trio aesthetic on new 2-CD set released on January 2012.
Rather than approach Bill Evans’ music as a tribute, his material provides more of a template. Corea, Gomez and Motian each also contribute original material. They also take on a never-before-heard, recently unearthed Evans tune, the graceful, gorgeous “Song No. 1.”The results are inspired, as this elevated piano trio plays with near-telepathic empathy and a remarkable blend of ingenuity and emotional depth. Recorded live at the Blue Note New York City in Feb. 2010.
