It’s difficult to come up with anything that hasn’t already been written about Chick Corea’s passing and the mark he made not only on Jazz but on Rock and World Music as well. Whether he was performing in a trio setting with his ‘Akoustic Band’ or firing out synth leads or funky chords on the Fender Rhodes opposite Al DiMeola’s scorching guitar in Return To Forever, Chick Corea’s playing was unique, lively and beautiful.
My first exposure to Chick’s work was listening to the 1972 Return To Forever album on ECM in my college library. His latin tinged octaves on the Fender Rhodes sounded so festive over Airto Moreira’s airy drumming and Flora Purim’s haunting vocals. It was some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard and still is to this day.
I’d like to present as a tribute to Chick Corea, two of my favorite shows of his from my collection:
Return To Forever – Live in Gothenburg, Sweden on January 22, 1975
https://we.tl/t-3HnMkNCdzD
Here we have Return To Forever shortly after Al Dimeola was recruited and the band is positively smoking, funky and tight as hell. Fusion didn’t get much better than this. Missing their reunion shows in 2008 is one of my greatest musical regrets.
Chick Corea Akoustic Band – Live in Belgrade, Yugoslavia on October 1, 1987
https://we.tl/t-YXpQIuOiKJ
Chick joined up with Dave Weckl and John Pattitucci from his ‘Elektric Band’ for dates in 1986 and 1987 before releasing the Chick Corea Akoustic Band album in 1989. Piano trios are usually always at least easy on the ears but there’s something that always grabs me about this show when I put it on that makes me listen all the way through.
Click the links above to download these shows from WeTransfer. Unzip > Import to iTunes (or your preferred music player) > Enjoy!