Biography

CHICK FOR EVER
In Memoriam to Chick Armando Corea a great friend and outstanding musician with never ending love Jürgen.

Anthony Armando (Chick) Corea was born in Chelsea, Massachussetts on June 12, 1941. He began playing piano at age four and his musical development was strongly influenced by his father, Armando, a bandleader in the ’30s and ’40s. Chick grew up listening to the music of Beethoven, Chopin, Bach and Mozart along with the recordings of Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Lester Young and Horace Silver, who became an especially strong influence on the aspiring pianist. His earliest employers – Willie Bobo, Cal Tjader, Herbie Mann and Mongo Santamaria – instilled in Chick a love for Latin American music. Even today his playing bears the percussive attack and double time feel that defines Latin music. After working with the likes of Stan Getz, Blue Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan and Gary Burton, he joined Miles Davis‘ band in 1968 and played electric piano on the landmark In a silent way album and the influential „Bitches Brew“ session. His own trio recording with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes, Now He sings, Now He sobs, became a staple in the record collections of modern jazz lovers during the late ’60s. His avantgarde group Circle, which ran from 1969 to 1971, was an important force in free form improvisation, reflecting the influence of jazz musicians like Paul Bley and Ornette Coleman while also drawing from 20th Century composers like John Cage and Karlheine Stockhausen. When Circle disbanded in 1972, Corea formed Return to Forever with Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, singer Flora Purim and reedman Joe Farrell. After two albums of light, breezy Latin-tinged music, (including two of Corea’s most popular tunes, „Spain“ and „La Fiesta“, the band took a turn toward the electronic side of things by incorporating electric guitarist Bill Connors and power drummer Lenny White. Guitarist Al Di Meola replaced Connors in 1974 and the band went on to spearhead the fusion movement before disbanding in 1976. In 1977-78 Corea toured with a 13-piece band (including horns and strings), while Clarke, White and DiMeola went on to lead groups on their own. Since the late ’70s, he has toured and recorded in a number of contexts, ranging from fusion quintets to straight-ahead jazz quartets and trios to classical duets. He formed the Elektric Band in 1985, debuting with Chick Corea Elektric Band on GRP Records. That effort was followed by Light Years (1987), Eye of the beholder (1988), the Chick Corea Akoustic Band and Origin (1998).

Specials

Dass ein Klavierabend aber auch im besten Sinne unterhaltsam sei kann, bewies CHICK COREA mit seinem Auftritt. Er ist ein kommunikativer Entertainer, der sein Publikum sofort abholt und in die „Tasche“ steckt, Über Jazzstandards improvisierte er zu Beginn, spielte zunächst Cole Porter noch mit den bekannten Corea-Licks, den Oktavläufen, den charakteristischen Verzierungen.

Aber dann drehte er auf und bewies, dass er ein Jazz-Improvisator von großem Format ist. Wie er die Motivik in Thelonious Monk „Blue Monk“ oder „Round about Midnight“ aus einander nahm und auf völlig überraschende Weise neu zusammensetzte, Monks Harmonik ganz anders beleuchtete, das war hohe Schule der Standart-Improvisation. Und am Ende betätigte er sich gar als Animator und ließ das Publikum singen. Peinlich ? Mitnichten ! Corea forderte seine Zuhörenden auf intelligente Weise heraus.

NEUE ZÜRICHER ZEITUNG
– Internationale Ausgabe

Projects

2001
Sept.27 Hamm, solo
Sept.30 Kempen, solo, Paderkirche

Okt.01 Frankfurt, Alte Oper
Okt.02 solo …..
Okt.03 Hamburg, Musikhalle
Okt.04 Nürnberg, Karstadt-Bühne
Okt.05 Baden Baden, Festspielhaus
Okt.06 solo …..
Okt.07 Stuttgart, Liederhalle
Okt.08 Köln, Philharmonie
Okt.09 Hamburg, Musikhalle
Okt.10 Magdeburg, Karstadt

Okt.13 >>> Okt.26 France Tour

Okt.28 A-Linz, Orchester
Okt.29 A-Linz, Orchester
Okt.30 A-Linz, Orchester
Okt.31 A-Linz, Orchester, Brucknerhaus

Nov.01 Darmstadt, Staats-Theater
Nov.02 solo …..
Nov.03 solo …..
Nov.04 Würzburg, Staats-Theater