Chick Corea

Chick Corea has scaled the heights of jazz, rock and classical music with equal passion and success. By the time he was four, he was formally studying the piano. At the age of 17, Chick burst on the Manhattan jazz scene of the late 1950's where he performed with, among others, Maynard Ferguson, Kenny Dorham, Stan Getz, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Herbie Mann and Sarah Vaughan.

By 1968, Chick Corea had been recruited by Miles Davis to perform on the groundbreaking classic recordings In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. Then Chick's focus changed again and jazz has never been quite the same since the birth of the initially softer, samba-flavored ensemble 'Return to Forever' with Stanley Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira and Joe Farrell. After two recordings, Corea plunged headlong into jazz fusion by turning RTF into a heavy electric quartet which launched the careers of guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. When RTF disbanded in '75, Chick Corea delved into a diverse series of recordings -- electronic ensembles, solo piano, classical music, high-powered acoustic duos with artists such as Herbie Hancock and Gary Burton. During the 1980's, Chick formed the very popular Chick Corea Elektric Band and the Chick Corea Akoustic Band.

The 90's continues with Chick's highly touted projects such as the Grammy-Award nominated Chick Corea & Friends: Remembering Bud Powell and in the classical realm, the highly successful Mozart Sessions with Bobby McFerrin and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. In 1999, Chick performed and recorded his piano Concerto with The London Philharmonic.