Live at the Blue Note, New York City
(12/4/01-12/23/01)
In celebration of his 60th birthday, legendary jazz pianist/composer Chick Corea will bring together world-renowned musicians from his groundbreaking past and present ensembles in a musical reunion of unprecedented proportions. This celebration and once-in-a-lifetime musical gathering will be held at the famed Blue Note jazz club in New York City. Corea will front a different ensemble of legendary jazz musicians-with configurations ranging from intimate duos to telepathic trios to powerful large ensembles-every two nights over the course of three incredible weeks, starting December 4, 2001.
The celebration will kick off with duet performances by Chick Corea and jazz vocal innovator Bobby McFerrin (12/4 & 12/5). On 12/6 and 12/7, Corea will be reunited with members of his legendary late '60s trio featuring bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes. This is the same trio that recorded the acclaimed "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs"-an album that helped launch Corea's incredible career. The first week of the celebration will culminate with performances by the Chick Corea "Remembering Bud Powell" band, formed in conjunction with the 1996 landmark recording, featuring trumpeter Wallace Roney, tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Roy Haynes (12/8 & 12/9).
The second week will begin with duet performances by Chick Corea and master vibraphonist Gary Burton (12/11 & 12/12). In 1997 Chick reunited with Gary Burton (it had been over 20 years since their "Crystal Silence" hit duet recording) to record Native Sense - The New Duets. This recording garnered Chick his 9th Grammy Award in 1998. No stranger to the Grammys, Chick has, so far, amassed a whopping 42 Grammy nominations and 11 Grammy Awards. Next, the Chick Corea Akoustic Band will take the stage (12/13 & 12/14). This remarkable trio-featuring virtuoso bassist John Patitucci and drum wizard Dave Weckl-received three Grammy nominations in 1989, winning a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group. Week two will end with a bang with Chick's innovative sextet, Origin (12/15 &12/16). Featuring the talents of Jeff Ballard (drums), Avishai Cohen (bass), Steve Davis (trombone), Steve Wilson (alto & soprano saxophones) and Tim Garland (tenor saxophone), Origin has been recognized as one of jazz's greatest ensembles, topping both the DownBeat Critics' Poll and the JazzTimes Readers' Poll (not to mention earning three Grammy Nominations).
The third and final week of the celebration will kick off with duo performances by Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock (12/18 & 12/19), two of the greatest and most influential living pianists in jazz. Their 1978 duo recording An Evening with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea In Concert is considered a modern jazz piano masterpiece. Next, Chick's current working group, the Chick Corea New Trio, will take the stage (12/19 & 12/20). Featuring bassist Avishai Cohen and drummer Jeff Ballad, many critics and fans consider this group to be the greatest artistic achievement in Chick's distinguished and influential career. The Chick Corea New Trio's debut recording Past, Present & Futures is currently at the top of the Billboard and Gavin charts. The incredible three-week celebration will close with Chick Corea leading an all-star band featuring Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), Eddie Gomez (bass), and Steve Gadd (drums) (12/22 & 12/23). This is the same band that recorded 1981's Three Quartets, one of the most creative recordings of the '80s.
Reuniting the different incarnations of his amazing ensembles may prove to be one of Chick Corea's most memorable achievements to date. One thing is for certain: this special three-week celebration, honoring music's perennially restless innovator, is a once-in-a-lifetime musical gathering that is certainly not to be missed!
"Chick Corea has been one of the most significant jazzmen of the past 30 years." - All Music Guide