ContemporaryJazz.com » chick corea

Amazon vs. iTunes: June Jazz

John Hilderbrand — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:58:35 +0000

There seems to be a higher-than-usual number of contemporary jazz recordings coming out this month. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the latest music costs at iTunes vs. the Amazon MP3 shop.

		Amazon	iTunes
Pat Metheny	What’s It All About	$8.99	$11.99
Michael Franks	Time Together	$6.99	$9.99
Corea, Clarke & White	Forever	$15.00	$19.99
Paul Taylor	Prime Time	$6.99	$9.99
New Gary Burton Quartet	Common Ground	$8.99	$9.99

New CDs and DVDs In May

John Hilderbrand — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:50:09 +0000

Here is a list of new CDs and DVDs coming in May that I’m aware of. Click to order the CD from Amazon.com, or to download MP3s. Your purchases through these links help the site!

May 5
Poogie Bell Band – Get on the Kit |
Jim Beard w/ Vince Mendoza – Revolutions
Incognito – Live in Jakarta DVD

May 12
Return To Forever – Live at Montreux 2008 DVD / Blu-ray
Stanley Clarke Trio w/ Hiromi and Lenny White – Jazz in the Garden |
Candy Dulfer – Funked Up! |
Charnett Moffett (feat. Will Calhoun) – The Art of Improvisation

May 19
Richard Elliot – Rock Steady |
Nicola Conte – Rituals |
Terri Lyne Carrington – More To Say… (Real Life Story: NextGen) |

May 26
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez – Quartet Live!
Diana Krall – Live In Rio DVD / Blu-ray

New Music in March

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:37:06 +0000

Earlier this month, I posted some of the new contemporary jazz and jazz-related videos that have come out this year. Below are some of the new CDs that came out this month. On the carousel to order the latest from Diana Krall, Gregg Karukas, Chris Botti, the Rippingtons, Sean Jones, Chuck Loeb, Return To Forever, Nils, and Philippe Saisse.

The Great Pumpkin Waltz

John Hilderbrand — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:19:39 +0000

The song I probably listen to most this time of year is Vince Guaraldi’s “The Great Pumpkin Waltz.” That’s a classic. Chick Corea covered it in the 1989 GRP compilation Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown! That recording in itself is great, with B.B. King, Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, and classic GRP artists Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, and David Benoit playing music from Peanuts specials. It’s always the Chick Corea trio of Chick, John Patitucci, and Tom Brechtlein and their top-notch recording that is the first track I queue up.

Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown!

Chick Corea Elektric Band – To the Stars

John Hilderbrand — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:46:42 +0000

Where is the hoopla around the new Chick Corea Elektric Band release To the Stars? The band easily ranks among the top fusion bands of all time. Every member – John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Frank Gambale, and Eric Marienthal – all have sustained solo careers. I must not be in the loop because I’m not detecting any buzz. These guys have not recorded together in a decade. Yet from listening to this release, it’s like no time has passed.
To the Stars, inspired by the classic L. Ron Hubbard science-fiction novel, immediately jumps in your face with energy and power. Its complexity and construction is like the classic Elektric Band recordings you know. In case you might have forgotten, you will be instantly reminded of hard-to-surpass musicianship of these individuals. I’m overjoyed to hear Patitucci plugged in again, to hear Gambale stand out, and to hear Marienthal pull away from smooth jazz for a while. Corea sounds inspired. While you’ll recognize the familiar sounds that are characteristic of the Elektric Band, there are a few surprises. Most significant is a beautiful vocal choir on “The Long Passage,” which is voiced by Gayle Moran Corea.
The Elektric Band and this recording are the epitome of modern jazz. Spread the word! How often do jazz supergroups reunite?
Welcome back, band. Hope to hear you together again soon.

Wishful Thinking – What I Would Like To See As A Result Of This Elektric Band Reunion:

Marienthal makes a follow-up to his 1990 modern jazz Crossroads CD
Gambale CD sales quadruple
Patitucci realizes how much he missed playing electric and records a new fusion CD similar to Christian McBride’s Vertical Vision
Weckl takes a one-album break to do a solo record where he invites his all-star modern jazz buds. Despite a good number of excellent Dave Weckl Band records, his first solo effort, Master Plan, is still my favorite. His collaborations with Michael Brecker, Chick, Steve Gadd, Marienthal, and others were in the pocket on that. After that, bring the Dave Weckl Band to Kansas City.
Chick gets the Foo Fighters to play his music at the Grammys – and it’s televised!

Chick and the Foo Fighters

John Hilderbrand — Fri, 30 Jan 2004 05:04:31 +0000

Drunken and/or inspired Grammy telecast organizers have teamed Chick Corea and the Foo Fighters to perform on the show, to be televised on February 8. I had not planned to watch it, which would be the first time I’ve skipped it. It’s the worst set of nominations that I’ve seen and the other performers aren’t interesting. However, with Chick and the Foos as well as a funk tribute with Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, OutKast and Parliament Funkadelic, I’ll now tape it and skip to the good stuff.

Chick Corea Elektric Band Concert Report

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 05 Nov 2002 04:49:40 +0000

John Vidor recently caught one of the few Chick Corea Elektric Band Reunion concerts at The Blue Note in NYC on October 26. John has been kind enough to write this report and supply the pictures below. Thanks, John!

“Having lived in the New York City area for over 15 years until 1985, and now living in upstate New York, it is always a pleasure going back for a visit, especially when going to see a jazz show. On Saturday, October 26, my wife Gladys and I had the pleasure of attending the reunion concert of the Chick Corea Elektric Band at The Blue Note. Chick was joined by Eric Marienthal, Frank Gambale, Jimmy Earl, and Dave Weckl. To say that the show was one of the finest we ever saw would be an understatement. The fact that we were sitting only one seat back from stage-center in this hallowed center of jazz only added to the enjoyment. From this vantage point, one can see the drops of sweat, the popping veins, and the intense concentration of the band members as they perform. Chick’s choice of the term “Elektric” for this band not only refers to the instrumentation, but, at least in my opinion, to the charged atmosphere created by group as they play. It was a full house at the Blue Note last Saturday, with people of various ethnic backgrounds coming together to enjoy the show. I heard Brazilian, German, Russian, Swedish, and Spanish being spoken. The band has international appeal. Another couple sitting with us at our table came all the way from Cleveland, Ohio. Chick and the guys played a number of songs from their various releases. My personal favorite was “Blue Miles”, an in-your-face funk tune off the band’s Paint the World release. In addition, there were duets with Chick and Eric, and Chick and Frank (on acoustic guitar). Dave Weckl provided incredible drum work, and Jimmy Earl’s contribution on bass was astounding. There was plenty of opportunity for soloing by all of the members, and each member took full advantage to show off their chops. After the show, I had the pleasure of taking a couple of pictures with Chick. I asked him if a new Elektric Band release was planned. Chick was a bit evasive, but my guess is that if the boys are met with the response at the other venues they will be appearing at, is the same as at The Blue Note last Saturday, get ready for some more “elektricity” from this super-band.”