Return to Forever IV Prepares for Action

The last two weeks of January 2011 have been quite a time for Chick Corea. First, he spent a week rehearsing about of a dozen of his finest compositions with Wynton Marsalis and his award-winning Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, who honored Chick by writing unique arrangements of his songs, then playing them with him at three sold-out shows at …

In Rehearsal: Chick, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

Chick joined Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra last night, for the first of three really fantastic shows. The big band took on some of Chick’s well-known tunes—like “Armando’s Rhumba” and “Windows”—plus some lesser-heard ones, like “Tones for Joan’s Bones” and “Children’s Song No. 10.” Here they are in rehearsal:

Chick Honors Herbie Hancock at BET Ceremony

Left: Chick and Herbie Hancock at the BET Honors ceremony for Herbie. Look for the special to air on BET Feb. 21. (All photos by PictureGroup, courtesy of BET Networks.)

Return to Forever IV: Wour Tour 2011

Return To Forever IV Comes Together: A Night To Remember in the Glorious History of Return to Forever There’ve been a lot of memorable nights since Chick Corea organized the first installment of Return to Forever, way back in the early ‘70s. Little could he have realized, those many years ago, that he was planting the seed for a musical …

Return to Forever IV: World Tour 2011 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RETURN TO FOREVER IV, THE LATEST VERSION OF THE  INNOVATIVE JAZZ/ROCK ENSEMBLE, KICKS OFF ITS 2011 WORLD TOUR WITH AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND DATES The dynamic electro-acoustic band features RTF’s core players – keyboardist Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White — with new members Jean-Luc Ponty on violin and Frank Gambale on guitar Sydney, …

Backstage Video: Chick & the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

Here’s what you couldn’t see on stage! Recorded on the Nov. 2010 tour of Sweden and Norway, with Chick and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. The TJO joined Chick on his 2005 album Live in Molde.

A Classic, Reimagined: “Spain” by the Akoustic Band

“Spain” is probably Chick’s most-requested song, and the tune has been seen a lot of different interpretations—from intimate duets to big-band readings—since it debuted in 1972. On Chick’s Facebook page the other day, quite of few fans named this version as their favorite: the closing song on Akoustic Band, released in 1989. That’s John Patitucci on bass and Dave Weckl …

Poster: Chick Corea and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

Here’s a really beautiful poster for Chick’s tour with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, which just wrapped up in Norway. Created “for fun, inspired by vintage jazz posters from the US,” by Uglylogo, a design firm based in Norway. The Trondheim Jazz Orchestra is the same brilliant big band featured on Chick’s 2005 album Live in Molde.

Interview: Christian McBride on Corea + McBride + Blade

Christian McBride spoke with KUSF on Oct. 12, 2010, in advance of the Corea + McBride + Blade trio’s four-night run at Yoshi’s Oakland. These are the last dates on the trio’s American tour—they’ll be in Japan this December. See the full tour schedule for details.

In Rehearsal: Corea + McBride + Blade

Here are the first photos of the Corea + McBride + Blade trio, taken at rehearsal on Sept. 23, before their first show in Chapel Hill, NC. See the trio’s full tour schedule here.

Interview: Chick’s Early Gigs Opposite Thelonious Monk

Chick talks backstage at the Umbria Jazz Festival about his early days in New York, where he played gigs opposite Thelonious Monk’s legendary groups. Just two more US Freedom Band dates left—if you’re in the area, don’t let these shows pass you by. Portland, OR: September 17 Monterey Jazz Festival: September 18

Video: Corea + McBride + Blade Live

This trio first came together on the Five Peace Band tour in 2009, when Brian Blade took over the drum chair from Vinnie Colaiuta. On that tour, there were moments when John McLaughlin and Kenny Garrett laid out, and a powerful, deeply improvisational trio sound was born. See the full live concert schedule for Corea + McBride + Blade’s tour …

Video: the Freedom Band in Rehearsal

This was shot in rehearsal, just before the Freedom Band set at the Istanbul Jazz Festival—you can tell right away why Chick calls this band “a group of friends.” Just two US dates for the Freedom Band left: Portland, OR: September 17 Monterey Jazz Festival: September 18