Chick’s in a Manhattan recording studio this week laying down The Continents: Concerto for Small Jazz Group and Chamber Orchestra. Outside, New York is pushing towards 100 degrees, and inside the music hall, doubling a recording studio, the room is full of concentration—three dozen musical minds working in unison. Conductor Steven Mercurio sits at the head of the orchestra, surrounded …
Jazz Backstage: Roy Haynes and the Legend of the Cymbal
Jazz Online, the creators of the Jazz Backstage podcast, just posted a really fantastic interview with the legendary Roy Haynes — a titan of the drums and a frequent collaborator of Chick’s. Roy talks about a certain flat ride cymbal that Chick “borrowed” one day in the early ’60s, and never managed to give back. The cymbal can be heard …
Bass Musician: “When Music Was Music”
The upcoming release of Corea, Clarke & White’s 2-CD set Forever received another shot of critical praise this week, as Bass Musician magazine called out the album’s artistry: “All throughout these CDs Corea, Clarke, and White tear it up, while the sense of a great composition is never undermined. For the record, Stanley is at his best all throughout both …
All About Jazz: Forever is “Sublime”
Listening to Corea, Clarke & White’s upcoming 2-CD set Forever, All About Jazz hears a signal jazz piano trio recording: “Trio recordings like this clearly define the division between ‘simply exceptional’ and ‘without peer.’ All three musicians so command their instruments that they exist on a performance plane defying supportive/lead roles, in favor of absolute equality.” The album—out June 7 …
Chick Joins Burghausen, Germany’s Street of Fame
Chick received a rare honor March 22, as the city of Burghausen, Germany unveiled a permanent plaque on its “Street of Fame,” honoring Chick’s contribution to the history of jazz. With a ceremony in his honor, the city announced its “deep bow to a legend.” Chick performed with Gary Burton the next day at the Burghausen Jazz Festival.
Jazz Chicago: “Stellar” Set from Corea, Clarke & White
Corea, Clarke & White’s 2-CD set Forever hits the streets June 7. Here’s what Jazz Chicago had to say about it: “Corea sparkles on piano throughout, White retains his powerhouse drum propulsion, while Clarke is playing as strong as ever — adding several memorable solos and a new original number — ‘La Cancion de Sophia.’ Ponty and Connors both do …
All About Jazz: “The Impossible Is Familiar Territory”
“It seemed impossible that two human beings could play such intricately melodic material, at that speed, in unison. The impossible was, however, clearly familiar territory for Chick Corea and Gary Burton.” That’s what All About Jazz had to say about the “virtuosic fireworks” during the encore for Chick and Gary’s show earlier this month at Anthology in San Diego. The …
LA Times: Chick Gets a Little Beatlemania
Chick’s been good friends with the legendary Beatles producer George Martin since 1974, when Martin produced the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Apocalypse, which featured Gayle Moran Corea on vocals. But as it turns out, Chick was so absorbed in jazz that he never got around to listening to the Beatles. “During that time I was so thoroughly immersed in Miles, Coltrane and …
West Australian: RTF IV’s “Rich Sound Palette”
Return to Forever IV didn’t waste time on their tour of Australia. At their first show, in Perth, they leapt full force into their signature sound. Perth’s Wester Australian was on hand to catch it. Here’s what they had to say: “It’s a no-brainer to say all five musicians are virtuosos, a fact laid bare in the finale, ‘Spain.’ Corea’s …
Return to Forever IV: First Photos from Australian Tour
Return to Forever IV is now on tour in Australia, prepping for the rest of their 2011 World Tour. Meanwhile, take a look at photos from Down Under!
What Does the Name “Return to Forever” Mean?
”The poetic thought behind [that title] was that in music and in art in general, when one puts their attention on creativity, what you’re doing is returning to a very natural home ground of yourself, of the spirit, of something that everyone has in common,” Corea said. ”I’m always trying to communicate from that place and return to it. You …
“Spain” on NPR’s Top 100 Jazz Songs
One of Chick’s best-known contributions to the jazz canon, “Spain,” was just named among the top 100 jazz songs of all time by the listeners of NPR. 1,500 listeners cast ballots of their favorite tunes, and “Spain” landed at #23, right between two of Chick’s heros: Horace Silver and Miles Davis. “Spain” was first released on the 1972 album Light …
The Music Show: Chick on RTF, Gary Burton [Audio]
Chick’s heading to Australia this month with the new lineup of Return to Forever, to kick off the quintet’s world tour. Here’s Chick during his last visit Down Under, talking with The Music Show’s Andrew Ford about his history with Miles Davis, Return to Forever, and Gary Burton. Chick and Gary are touring the US and Europe starting next month, …
Frank Gambale Joins Jazz-Rock Giants Return to Forever for Australian Tour
Native Australian Guitar Virtuoso Joins Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White; Violin Legend Jean-Luc Ponty Also On Board Frank Gambale, a native of Canberra and one of the most universally acclaimed guitarists in any genre, returns to his homeland in Feb. 2011 as the newest member of Return to Forever. Return to Forever, jazz-rock’s venerable pioneering outfit, has chosen …
NY Times: “Intense, Masterly” Set with Jazz at Lincoln Center
Chick spent three nights in concert with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra last week, with a survey of Chick’s entire career as a composer. The New York Times had some kind words to say about the show on Friday: The collaborative passages were “intense and interactive, almost little stand-alone concerts themselves. Mr. Corea was masterly with …
