Remembering Chick Corea

• Jazz innovator Chick Corea passed away on Tuesday, February 9 at the age of 79 from a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently. The announcement was posted on his website.

The longtime Concord Jazz recording artist was one of the most nominated artists in Grammy Awards history with 67 nods — and 23 wins, in addition to four Latin Grammys. He earned his 66th and 67th Grammy nominations in the “Best Jazz Instrumental Album” and “Improvised Jazz Solo” categories for his album Trilogy 2 and the track “All Blues” on November 25, 2020. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, bebop to jazz-rock fusion, children’s songs to chamber and symphonic works, Chick Corea touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his career since playing with the genre-shattering bands of Miles Davis in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

“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 Label Executive Tom Whalley. “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.”

Corea’s remarkable discography with Concord includes Five Peace Band Live with guitarist John McLaughlin, The Musician, The Vigil, Two with banjoist Béla Fleck, Chinese Butterfly with drummer Steve Gadd, Antidote and Trilogy 2. Corea’s latest recording, the double album, Plays, was released on September 11, 2020.

In closing, Whalley said, “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.”