If you'd like to submit a question for consideration for posting on Inside Scoop, please visit Write Chick. Inside Scoop will be answered by our crack staff, Chick aficionados or Chick himself.
Question #1:
Chick, I see you got love for Spanish music , what is your first memory of it? And what Spanish musicians do you admire?
~Alberto
Answer #1:
Hello Alberto,
Thanks for your message and question.
Since I was in high school in the 50's… music made by musicians from various Spanish-speaking origins have always made a positive impression on me. The first Latin dance band I worked with that brought a kind of salsa dance music to me was in the quartet of Portuguese-born Phil Barboza, a trumpeter living in the Boston area. In that band I met Bill Fitch, a conguero who played for me, recordings of Tito Puente and other New York based Latin dance bands. This is where I got my first taste of these kinds of infectious dance rhythms.
After high school in the 60's I played with and learned from some great Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians in New York City. First Mongo Santamaria and Willie Bobo. Then, Carlos “Patato” Valdes, Julito Collazo and other great players.
I also stopped in at the Palladium dance hall on Broadway many times to listen to bands led by Tito Puente, Machito, Eddie Palmieri and others. During that time I fell in love with "Sketches Of Spain" the great recording by Miles Davis and Gil Evans where I first heard their version of the "Concerto D'Aranjuez" by Rodrigo. But it wasn't until the 70's that I came into contact with the Flamenco music of Spain through the bands of the great Paco de Lucia. I also worked with Stan Getz and Joâo Gilberto in '72 - a great introduction to the lyrical songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim.
The music of Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico and South America have always been close to me. Thanks again for writing in.
~Chick
Question #2:
I was wondering if you are going to be filming a DVD of the Elektric Band while you're at the Blue Note (in New York City) with Victor Wooten? Thanks a lot, Alex
Answer #2:
Dear Alex,
As part of a two week extravaganza celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the world famous Blue Note Jazz Club, we did indeed film the Elektric Band: Chick/keyboards (including Rhodes and Mini Moog), Dave Weckl/drums, Eric Marienthal/saxes, Frank Gambale/guitar and bass virtuoso Victor Wooten at the Blue Note in New York City, November '06.
The second week we filmed Chick featured a group of musicians he dubbed "The Leprechaun Band." This group featured Chick on keyboards, the great Steve Gadd/drums, bass legend Anthony Jackson, the amazing Ravi Coltrane on saxes and the Elektric Band's Frank Gambale.
See our new News section for more info.
Bill Rooney
Manager for Chick
Question #3
Hi Chick, is there any chance of a tour to Australia in 2007? Your many fans here would love to see you play here again with one of our orchestra's or your work with bella fleck or the electrik band. You continue to amaze and inspire us...please stay well and all the best for Christmas and the New Year...cheers
Answer #3:
Hi, this is Bill Rooney, manager for Chick, answering on his behalf. There is a tour planned for Australia in May of 2007. And a very special one indeed. Our travels will take us to Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The tour is the celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Crystal Silence, the great Chick Corea and Gary Burton duet album. Chick and Gary will be playing with orchestras in Perth and Sydney with new arrangements of their classic songs written for the duet plus a full symphony orchestra.
Also, in Melbourne, there will be a special one night only performance with Australia’s own Frank Gambale in a new quartet with Chick. Chick will also be delivering a Master Class during the visit to Melbourne. So keep an eye on Chickcorea.com for more details of our visit down-under in May.
Question #4
I just got tickets to see you and Bela Fleck in Columbus, GA. I'm extremely excited to hear the performance. If I'm not mistaken it is the first time the two of you have toured together. What can we expect?
Answer #4:
This is the first time that Bela and Chick have toured together. Hey, it may be the first tour of any banjo-player and jazz pianist! Bela and Chick have been friends and admirers of each others' music for many years. Bela appears on the Chick Corea and Bobby McFerrin DVD as part of the Rendezvous in New York 10-DVD boxed set. Bela sits in on Spain and it’s a lot of fun.
The hot scoop is that Bela and Chick are recording a duet CD together scheduled to be released in May ‘07. You can expect two genius masters playing at the top of their game and incredible writing from the both of them. Of course they’ll play some favorites also.
The duet will be touring throughout 2007 so keep an eye on Chickcorea.com for concerts near you.
P.S. They both were nominated for two Grammy Awards each this year for work on their respective latest CDs!
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