Chick Corea, the virtuosic keyboardist, bandleader, drummer, percussionist, who broadened the scope of jazz during a career spanning more than five decades, died on Tuesday February 9th from a rare form of cancer. A post on his Facebook page confirmed the news. Corea was 79.
Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American jazz composer, keyboardist, bandleader and occasional percussionist. In the early Sixties, Corea established himself as an A-list pianist, working with Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, and others. Later in the decade, he joined Miles Davis’ band and played a key role in helping the trumpeter make the transition to a more contemporary, plugged-in sound on albums like Bitches Brew. Following his work with Davis, he formed his own groundbreaking electric band, Return to Forever, which played some of the most vibrant and dynamic music of the fusion era. In the ensuing decades, Corea threw himself into countless projects, showing off his limitless range — from a duo with vibraphonist Gary Burton to his trendsetting Elektric Band. His most recent album, the 2020 live solo disc Plays, showed off his wildly diverse skill set and body of influences, touching on classical pieces, bebop, and more.
His compositions “Spain”, “500 Miles High”, “La Fiesta”, “Armando’s Rhumba” and “Windows” are widely considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis’s band in the late 1960s, he participated in the birth of jazz fusion.
Corea won 23 Grammy Awards and was nominated over 60 times.
Although a bandleader and multi-instrumentalist we at Drumming News Network celebrate and remember his ability as a drummer and percussionist.
Sources: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chick-corea-obit-1127283/?fbclid=IwAR2DXizoUcqLCvUBg2tcHOvw1cjkzOkS4B_Vl9s6DnvrBUfpcP8z1k0-5ek & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Corea
