Chick Corea & The Vigil
Monday, August 11, 2014
At the Rio Theatre
“Gale force intensity… gloriously impassioned.” – Jazzwise Magazine
No one can accuse Chick Corea of resting on his laurels. The 20-time Grammy award-winner and NEA Jazz Master personifies a rare artistic standard of excellence. Corea’s latest project, The Vigil features all new compositions and re-workings of old favorites. The Guardian calls The Vigil “Corea’s best band in decades” —and, perhaps, the only one truly capable of managing a tough book of music that consolidates a career now entering its sixth decade and still driving forward with relentless energy. While The Vigil is indeed fusion-oriented reminiscent of Corea’s Return to Forever era, there’s a number of fully acoustic pieces that brings a different kind of energy to the table. The Vigil includes Tim Garland on saxophones, flute, bass clarinet; Charles Altura on guitar; Carlitos Del Puerto on bass; Marcus Gilmore on drums; and Luisito Quintero on percussion. From his early work with Mongo Santamaria, Stan Getz and Miles Davis, and his avant-garde adventures in Circle (with Anthony Braxton), to pioneering fusion with Return To Forever, Corea continues to progress forward with brilliant compositions and inspirational playing
Born seventy-one years ago, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea started playing piano at age four. He took up the drums at age eight, but the piano eventually won out, although he still occasionally plays drums in concert. His first major gigs were with the bands of Latin-jazz masters Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo, an experience that gave him a solid footing in Afro-Cuban rhythms. Influenced by pianists Horace Silver and Bud Powell, Corea’s brilliant keyboard work began to get attention around New York City. He went on to work with Blue Mitchell, Herbie Mann, and Stan Getz. His first recording date as a leader, Tones For Jones Bones, in 1966, was an auspicious one. It stands today as a milestone marker for the changes a new generation of musicians were bringing to jazz. Two years later he recorded another major classic, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes. Corea’s playing caught the ear of Miles Davis and in 1968, he joined Miles’ band replacing Herbie Hancock. His appearance on the Filles de Kilimanjaro album coincided with Miles’ entry into jazz/rock, and Corea participated in what became classic recordings of the electric jazz era: In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew.
In 1970 Chick left Miles to lead his own groups, starting with the avant garde Circle. Two years later, he began the first iteration of Return to Forever, a Brazilian-tinged unit, featuring Airto and Flora Purim, that soon transformed into a high energy, guitar-driven fusion quartet, then morphed into a softer-edged large ensemble with a horn section. In the mid-’80s, he formed the high-tech Elektric Band, and its “low-tech” counterpart Akoustic Band. In the ’90s, he toured with a revamped Elektric Band II. More recently, he was part of the Five Peace Band, with guitar great John McLaughlin. These are just a few of the projects and collaborations that Chick has been a part of through the years – acoustic or electric, small or large. Additionally, he has jammed on stage with ear-blasting rock bands at the Grammy Awards and performed classical music with symphonic orchestras in concert halls. Through it all, Chick Corea has pursued an artistic vision that takes delight in the inspiration of the moment and in the pure joy of performance. The Santa Cruz date is the bands only Northern California appearance!
CALENDAR INFO
Chick Corea & The Vigil
DATE Monday, August 11, 2014
VENUE: Rio Theatre
ADDRESS: 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
TIME: 7:30 PM
PRICE: $75/Gold Circle Reserved $45/General, No Comp Tickets
TICKETS: Logos Books & Records, 1117 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz (831) 427-5100 and online at: http://www.kuumbwajazz.org
MORE INFO: http://www.kuumbwajazz.org or 831-427-2227
Media contact:
Dan Muse
dan@chickcorea.com
(413) 530-1683
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