They call me a teacher, but what I'm actually doing is studying.
February 12, 2021 7:34 AM   Subscribe

RIP Chick Corea. You were a legend in your lifetime.
This discography has plenty of samples.
posted by adamvasco (45 comments total) 22 users marked this as a favorite
 
Aw, fuck.

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posted by flabdablet at 7:47 AM on February 12, 2021


Nice obituary from Rick Beato (YouTube)
posted by flabdablet at 7:50 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by Splunge at 7:52 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by sfred at 8:05 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by runehog at 8:10 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by Going To Maine at 8:11 AM on February 12, 2021


There were a couple of neat anecdotes in the Hacker News thread (I was surprised too).
posted by yerfatma at 8:21 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by oozy rat in a sanitary zoo at 8:21 AM on February 12, 2021


Chick Corea: Vigilette | JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA (Scullers Jazz Club, Boston, 19-Sep-2018; NPR YouTube)
posted by flabdablet at 8:30 AM on February 12, 2021 [3 favorites]


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There's a sweet pared-down Chick Corea and Gary Burton Tiny Desk Concert from a few years back. Just piano and vibes. Real nice.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:30 AM on February 12, 2021 [6 favorites]


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posted by Foosnark at 8:35 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by riverlife at 8:39 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by pseudophile at 8:48 AM on February 12, 2021


> There were a couple of neat anecdotes in the Hacker News thread (I was surprised too).

A much nicer thread than I had anticipated. And, tangentially, introduced me to the word kummerspeck, which is German for grief bacon. I am not sure what to do with this knowledge but I hope I can use it appropriately.
posted by ardgedee at 8:49 AM on February 12, 2021


So glad I got to see him a couple years ago. During the first lockdown, he was very generous with his time, streaming shows he'd make of his practice sessions at home, answering fan questions. It was so nice to see this great artist have to go through the steps of learning, say, a Mozart piece, and allowing us to see Chick in this whole new context.

A great soul and a great artist. Thank you, sir.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:56 AM on February 12, 2021 [5 favorites]


I was first introduced to Chick Corea's music by a friend ~25 years ago, and it completely transformed my outlook on jazz. I've had the wonderful opportunity to hear him in concert several times, most recently just last year in Chicago before COVID put an end to live performances. Every concert was superb, but last year's stands out in my mind as being the best -- not just of his concerts, not just of jazz performances I've heard, but of ALL the concerts I've ever been to by anyone in any genre. It was by turns playful and moving and witty and energetic -- absolutely amazing. You'd never have guessed that he was 78. Just PHENOMENAL.
posted by Westringia F. at 8:59 AM on February 12, 2021 [3 favorites]


This is really sad news. Hearing Chick in the Akoustic Band in the early 90's was actually what got me interested in jazz as a youngster, and then discovering RTF and the Elektric Band and of course what he did with Miles... dang. He could do anything, and he played with everyone.

Check him out on Letterman in the 80's. In the later years I really loved his collaboration with Bela Fleck, and I got to see him once in a jam session which was cool.
posted by klausman at 9:05 AM on February 12, 2021 [4 favorites]


Many years ago, Chick Corea went to Dragon Con to play songs from "To the Stars". I've got mixed feelings about that album, and its tie to Scientology in particular (which is how he ended up playing at an SFF con). Then I was nearly crushed lifting his piano onto the stage. But in return I got to watch him and the Elektric Band from the wings. My friend the bassist watched John Patitucci with an expression of near-religious ecstasy. I'm sure me, the former pianist, had a similar expression watching Corea.

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posted by sgranade at 9:06 AM on February 12, 2021 [3 favorites]


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posted by AugustWest at 9:22 AM on February 12, 2021


I wish I had seen him play a solo piano concert. I saw the second RTF reunion tour that they did in the 2000's, and his solo/feature piece on grand piano was very beautiful.
posted by thelonius at 9:31 AM on February 12, 2021


Thanks for that Hacker News link. There is a lot of excellent music referenced there.
Also thanks to all of you who are posting your favourite takes. Awesome stuff. Awesome man.
posted by adamvasco at 9:35 AM on February 12, 2021


Takin the toys & makin a noise & havin a blast
a total immersion version
Malaguena
posted by Twang at 9:37 AM on February 12, 2021


During the first lockdown, he was very generous with his time, streaming shows he'd make of his practice sessions at home, answering fan questions. It was so nice to see this great artist have to go through the steps of learning, say, a Mozart piece, and allowing us to see Chick in this whole new context.

Capt. Renault, those sound wonderful. Do you know whether they’re still available? I’d be fascinated to see them, and my piano student son might get a lot out of them as well.

Chick Corea’s work represented fully half of my introduction to jazz fusion when I started exploring that genre in high school: Return to Forever, the Elektric and Akoustic Band albums, and “Duet” with Gary Burton, among others. I still listen to these often. I discovered so many great musicians through Corea, and have such love for his voice as composer, improviser, and performer. I got to see him live touring the Akoustic Band album and I’m so glad I did.

In his memory here are four great live versions of “Spain”, one of my favorites:

1973 with Return to Forever in Molde

1991 with the Akoustic Band in Munich

2006 with yet another amazing band in Barcelona

2012 with Bobby McFerrin in Vienne
posted by Songdog at 10:07 AM on February 12, 2021 [2 favorites]


@klausman, like you my intro to Chick was through his Akoustik band in the early 90's also. I have a friend who got his Music degree from DePaul because of Chick. As someone who is not artistically gifted/inclined; hearing him talk of why Chick's music 'speaks' to him was a revelation to me. I still don't really appreciate instrumental Jazz, but Chick is the reason why I at least have an idea why it's liked by aficionados. Started his career with a bang and continued that way till his passing. That is a great career/life.

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posted by indianbadger1 at 10:36 AM on February 12, 2021 [1 favorite]


Capt. Renault, those sound wonderful. Do you know whether they’re still available?

They were Facebook Live events, so maybe they're still on his FB page?

posted by Capt. Renault at 11:03 AM on February 12, 2021 [1 favorite]


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posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:35 AM on February 12, 2021


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posted by little onion at 11:51 AM on February 12, 2021


♫♪♪.
posted by adekllny at 12:00 PM on February 12, 2021



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posted by evilDoug at 12:41 PM on February 12, 2021


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posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:33 PM on February 12, 2021


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posted by pt68 at 1:42 PM on February 12, 2021


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posted by Lesser Spotted Potoroo at 2:40 PM on February 12, 2021


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posted by hypnogogue at 3:37 PM on February 12, 2021


I first heard Corea on his album Inner Space and came to love his improvisations and his soulful piano playing. By that I mean that I heard him play with soul, not that he played soul music. His music was extraordinarily moving, in that I hadn't enjoyed the variations of jazz that I had heard up until I heard him and the many wonderful people who helped him form and promote his fusion music. Thank you for helping me learn to love jazz, Chick. There must be one hell of a jam session going on in heaven now that you've arrived!
posted by Lynsey at 3:52 PM on February 12, 2021


I wasn't quite ardent, but we jammed to La Fiesta a lot. (and 500 Miles sometimes).
posted by ovvl at 4:57 PM on February 12, 2021


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posted by oneswellfoop at 6:35 PM on February 12, 2021


I have never regretted time spent listening to Chick Corea. He was always rewarding and could hold your musical attention like very few.

RIP, and thanks.
posted by Pouteria at 8:58 PM on February 12, 2021 [1 favorite]


🎹
posted by clavdivs at 10:02 PM on February 12, 2021


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posted by TedW at 3:25 AM on February 13, 2021


I saw him live, with Michael Brecker, at Wolf Trap, and I was in the second row—probably the best jazz concert of my life! RIP, Mr. Corea.
posted by newdaddy at 9:07 AM on February 13, 2021 [2 favorites]


A truly kind man. Back in the early 80's, one of the darkest, most isolated times of my life, I wrote him a letter. I have no idea how or why I had his address, but he wrote back, encouraging me (a virtual stranger) to hold on, to trust the path. I have no idea what (if anything) happens after death but . . . Thank you and best wishes, Mr. Corea. You made a difference.
posted by chance at 10:54 AM on February 13, 2021 [4 favorites]


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posted by condour75 at 4:08 AM on February 14, 2021


From The Guardian - (You will need Spotify to listen to the full tracks).
Chick Corea: his 10 greatest recordings
From hard bop to fusion, mischievousness to sensitivity, Corea’s wide-ranging catalogue lived at the vanguard of jazz.
posted by adamvasco at 5:56 AM on February 15, 2021


There's a fantastic remembrance/appreciation of Chick Corea by music writer Mark Stryker over at pianist Ethan Iverson's site, with tons of insight into Corea's career path (including thoughts on the Scientology stuff), and lots of links to fantastic music. I'm especially salivating over this:

* There is a bootleg tape of Chick with Sarah Vaughan in Las Vegas in 1968 that is unbelievable. Herbie Mickman plays bass, and Steve Schaeffer plays drums. A copy of this tape (two club sets) used to be on YouTube, but it has disappeared. I’ve never heard a quality dub. Does one exist? I wish it could see commercial release. It’s revelatory.

He then goes on to describe just how revelatory. Anyway, it's the best writing I've seen in the wake of Corea's passing.
posted by mediareport at 6:44 AM on February 18, 2021 [2 favorites]


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