American virtuoso keyboardist, jazz-rock fusion trailblazer and composer Chick Corea passed away on February 9th, 2021 at the age of 79 from a rare form of cancer that was only discovered very recently.
Born in 1941 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the renowned musician was a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master, as well as one of the most nominated artists in GRAMMY Awards history with 67 nominations and 23 wins, as well as 4 Latin GRAMMYS.
Chick Corea was one of the pioneers of jazz rock fusion as member of the Miles Davis band in the late 1960s and as founder of the groundbreaking jazz-rock fusion act Return to Forever in the early 1970s where he played piano and some of the most memorable synthesizer solos of the era that inspired numerous jazz and progressive rock keyboardists.
Chick Corea played straight-ahead jazz, avant-garde, bebop, jazz-rock fusion, flamenco jazz, children’s songs, chamber and symphonic works.
“A portrait of relentless artistic pursuit and expression, Chick Corea’s passing is a monumental loss to the music world and to Concord,” said Chief Concord Records executive Tom Whalley in a press release. “For 24 years, Concord was Chick’s home and we have been honored all the while by his artistic talents and his presence as a human being.
“Recording in a wide variety of musical styles and instrumental ensembles, Chick demonstrated technical prowess always informed by taste and virtuosity. For five decades, generations of musicians and music fans have been inspired by his both his compositions, performance and recordings.
“Concord is proud of its lengthy relationship with Chick which allowed us to bear witness to a life and career lead brilliantly. Forever thanks for your impactful contribution to the world.”
Chick Corea composed iconic musical pieces that have become standards, including “Spain”, “500 Miles High”, “La Fiesta”, “Armando’s Rhumba” and “Windows.”
Corea’s latest recording, “Plays,” is a double album of solo performances released on September 11th, 2020.
Headline image: Chick Corea – Photo by Sakurai Toshi