Chick Corea

Biography

Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea was born on June 12, 1941, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Raised in a musically rich environment—his father was a jazz trumpeter—Corea began piano lessons at age four and soon added drums, which influenced his percussive approach to the piano. His early exposure to jazz greats like Bud Powell and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, shaped his eclectic musical sensibility[2][4][7].

Corea's professional career began in the early 1960s, playing with Latin jazz and jazz artists including Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Blue Mitchell, Herbie Mann, and Stan Getz. His breakthrough came as a member of Miles Davis's band, where he contributed to landmark albums such as "In a Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew," helping to pioneer jazz fusion[1][3][4]. Corea then formed influential groups like Return to Forever and the Elektric Band, blending jazz, rock, Latin, and classical elements. His compositions "Spain," "La Fiesta," and "Windows" became jazz standards, and his discography spans acoustic, electric, and symphonic works[1][2][3].

Throughout his five-decade career, Corea was known for his tireless creativity, technical virtuosity, and genre-defying collaborations. He won 27 Grammy Awards and was named an NEA Jazz Master. Corea's legacy endures through his innovative recordings, his influence on generations of jazz pianists, and his role in expanding the boundaries of jazz[1][3][4][6]. He passed away on February 9, 2021, in Tampa, Florida.

Fun Facts

• Chick Corea wrote several books, including 'Children’s Songs' and 'A Work in Progress…on Being a Musician', reflecting his creative philosophy and approach to music[2].
• He was a member of Scientology and credited its teachings with helping him maintain his creativity and focus[5].
• Corea's composition 'Spain' is based on Joaquín Rodrigo’s 'Concierto de Aranjuez' and is considered a jazz standard[3].
• He won a total of 27 Grammy Awards and was nominated over 60 times, making him one of the most awarded jazz musicians in history[6].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Horace Silver - Early stylistic influence and inspiration (Corea's left-hand figures and harmonic approach) [1950s-1960s]
• Bud Powell - Influenced Corea's bebop phrasing and improvisational style (General piano technique and improvisation) [1950s-1960s]
• Miles Davis - Band leader and mentor during jazz fusion era (In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Filles de Kilimanjaro) [1968-1970]

Key Collaborators

• Herbie Hancock - Frequent duet partner and peer among jazz pianists (Duet concerts and recordings) [1970s-2010s]
• Gary Burton - Longtime collaborator in duo and ensemble formats (Crystal Silence, Hot House) [1972-2012]
• Béla Fleck - Recorded Grammy-winning duets (The Enchantment, Remembrance) [2007-2021]
• Stanley Clarke - Bassist in Return to Forever and other projects (Return to Forever, Forever) [1972-2011]
• Roy Haynes - Drummer in classic trio recordings (Now He Sings, Now He Sobs) [1968]
• John McLaughlin - Collaborator in Five Peace Band (Five Peace Band Live) [2009]

Artists Influenced

• Brad Mehldau - Inspired by Corea's harmonic language and improvisational style (Mehldau's solo and trio work) [1990s-present]
• Hiromi Uehara - Directly mentored and influenced by Corea (Collaborative performances and stylistic inspiration) [2000s-present]
• Danilo Pérez - Influenced by Corea's Latin jazz innovations (Pérez's Latin jazz compositions) [1990s-present]
• Jacob Collier - Inspired by Corea's genre-blending and harmonic experimentation (Collier's jazz fusion works) [2010s-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. My One And Only Love (Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (Expanded Edition))
2. Windows (Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (Expanded Edition))
3. Crystal Silence (Return To Forever)
4. Children's Song No. 1 (Arr. for guitar by Forbes Henderson) - Classical Session
5. Spain (Light As A Feather)
6. Windows
7. Senor Mouse (Crystal Silence)
8. Spain (Light As A Feather (Deluxe Edition))
9. Got A Match? (The Chick Corea Elektric Band)
10. Armando's Rhumba (My Spanish Heart)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia