RIP Chick Corea

[ghost of miles]

Just got a text from a friend that seems confirmed by reports on social media that Chick Corea has died.

Chick Corea has died at 79

 

 

Edited February 12, 2021 by ghost of miles

[jazzbo]

Oh crap. 

[Daniel A]

This one hurts for me, one of my heroes. Confirmed on his website as well. 

https://chickcorea.com/

I had the honor of playing four-handed piano with him on stage when he did a solo concert in Sweden in 2018. Will cherish that memory forever.

Edited February 11, 2021 by Daniel A

[jazzbo]

https://chickcorea.com/

Same news here.

[mjazzg]

RIP

[clifford_thornton]

Damn! What a bummer. 

[soulpope]

😪 R.I.P 😪 ....

[Dub Modal]

RIP. Don't think I knew he had cancer. Terrible news. 

[JSngry]

Wow, that was quite the ride!

[colinmce]

RIP. For my money, Tones For Jones Bones & Now He Sings, Now He Sobs are two of the absolute best jazz records ever made, and just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his accomplishments. 

[felser]

3 minutes ago, colinmce said:

RIP. For my money, Tones For Jones Bones & Now He Sings, Now He Sobs are two of the absolute best jazz records ever made, and just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his accomplishments. 

+1.  And "Crystal Silence" and "Light as a Feather" each broke incredible ground, and are also classics.  And he did dozens of worthwhile to excellent albums in the decades since.  Incredible musician, and probably taken for granted way too much.  RIP.  Ouch.

[ejp626]

RIP.  Oh wow.  Was not expecting this news at all.

Saw him once in trio format with Avashai Cohen on bass at Lincoln Center.  Massive sound/miking problems unfortunately, which I guess they finally worked through.

[HutchFan]

Oh, this is terrible news!  Ugh.

R.I.P.  

 

[tranemonk]

yea it sucks... Awful... Just makes this 2020-2021 shitty time a little worse...

[Peter Friedman]

Long ago when I was visiting New York City for a few days, I went to the Village Vanguard on a Monday night to see the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. There a sub playing the Piano with the band that night and I did not know who this young guy was, but he sounded terrific. I asked someone who was playing piano. the answer was Chick Corea!

Funny how some things stay in your memory so many decades later.

[mjzee]

R.I.P.

[JSngry]

I revisited the two Piano Improvisations ECM records a few months ago and...still fresh, often startling. Fully focused, open on all sides. Not very many people get there.

No matter what came after (and so many...different things did...) I doubt that he ever went anywhere not knowing that he still had that in his pocket any time he wanted it.

That's the hope, not just for him but for everybody who makes decisions.

[Hardbopjazz]

Sad news. RIP. 

[sidewinder]

Dreadful news, just heard it on the radio - RIP. I did get to see him with both his electric and acoustic lineups. I think the last time was with Tim Garland and Avashai Cohen, can’t recall who was on drums.

Edited February 11, 2021 by sidewinder

[trane123]

This does hit hard.  My first initiation into jazz was Return To Forever (with Dimeola/White/Clarke) when I was in high school.  Over the years I've listened to (and mostly loved) all of his other stuff.  I got to see him play live many times.  RIP indeed...

[optatio]

I have so many LPs with him on my shelf ... R.I.P.

[Larry Kart]

1 hour ago, Daniel A said:

This one hurts for me, one of my heroes. Confirmed on his wesite as well. 

https://chickcorea.com/

I had the honor of playing four-handed piano with him on stage when he did a solo concert in Sweden in 2018. Will cherish that memory forever.

Did an interview with him for Down Beat in 1969-70 when he was with Miles at the Plugged Nickel on electric piano. Couldn't have been nicer. Somewhat disconcertingly, he kind of came on  to my wife who was along for the ride, kept telling her she was "an old soul." I got the feeling that this was a line that had worked for him before. We laughed it off.

[Jason Bivins]

Colossal loss. RIP, sir, and thanks for all the music.

[cliffpeterson]

I saw him for the first time in April 2012.  He appeared by himself.  I thought I was watching and listening to the Victor Borge of Jazz.  This reviewer agreed with my assessment:

 

https://www.nippertown.com/2012/04/17/live-chick-corea-the-college-of-st-rose-massry-center-4412/

 

As the reviewer describes,  after intermission Corea returned to the bench and then jumped up to play at the mike a John Coltrane tune he had on his smart phone (the reviewer claims it was an iPod).  The best part was that Corea was beside himself with glee at sharing that with the audience. 

Caught him later in a trio at Tanglewood.  

Both concerts were marvelous. 

[Guy Berger]

Oh no.

When he was at his best, he was one of the very very very best.