Jazz fusion pioneer Chick Corea died at age 79.
The keyboardist and band leader – best known for his work as a solo artist and with Return to Forever, and for accompanying Miles Davis – died on Tuesday after fighting “a rare form of cancer that was only recently discovered”, according to with your official Facebook.
That statement says in part: “Although he was the first to say that his music said more than words could ever, he left this message for all those he knew and loved, and for all those who loved him: ‘I want to I thank all those along my journey who helped to keep the music burning, I hope those who have the idea of playing, writing, acting or not will do it. If it’s not for you, for the rest of us It’s not just that the world needs more artists, it’s also a lot of fun.
“And for my incredible musician friends, who have been my family since I met you: it was a blessing and an honor to learn and play with all of you. My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could, and to have done it with all the artists I admire so much – this has been the richness of my life. ‘”The note concludes by noting that the Corea family” will enjoy their privacy during this difficult period of loss. “
Corea was born on June 12, 1941, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and started playing music as a child. After finding his niche as a pianist, he got a job in the early 1960s, playing with jazz musicians like Stan Getz and Herbie Mann. In 1966, he recorded his first LP, Tones for Joan’s Bones, which came out two years later on Atlantic Records. A breakthrough came at the end of that decade, joining Davis’ band on the electric piano for a series of landmark jazz fusion albums – including 1969 Quietly, 1970s Bitches Brew and 1971 Barely alive – which combined jazz with rock, funk and other styles.
After his stint at Davis, Corea formed his own iconic fusion group, Return to Forever, which recorded a total of eight LPs during the first season of the 1970s – 1972 Back forever (technically credited only to Korea) until 1978 Live. The band met several times, resulting in a pair of later live recordings: 2009 Return forever – Returns and 2012 The return of the mothership.
He exhibited a wide range of music throughout that crucial decade, pushing jazz forward, expanding into several genres. “In the 1970s, I was inspired by the music of Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell. I also admire the band Yes, ”he told Capital Bop in 2012.“ But I listen to all kinds of music and I still listen. I love to hear what musicians do when they combine influences and inspirations from around the world. “
Corea remained one of the most prolific fusion artists throughout his long career, recording dozens of albums as a solo artist, collaborator and member of the band. His most recent project was the live solo LP of 2020 Play.