Chick Corea Elektric Band:
Spain - Live 2004
Chick Corea was my hero. A true Creative, he spent every day playing piano, practicing, composing and engaging with others. He played every style of jazz, from bebop to mellow to Latin to Fusion to Standards to the most "out" Free Jazz you can imagine. I might not have agreed with his fixation on Scientology, but it certainly worked for him, giving him the clarity that allowed the essence of music to flow to him and through him.
His musical groups, from "Light As A Feather" through "Return To Forever" through the Elektric Band and the AKoustic Band were always greater than the sum of their parts. He played with the best and gave the best free reign to achieve greatness. This is something I emulate with all my music ensembles as well.
His catalog is so deep, it is hard to choose one song or recording, but this one is wonderful. "Spain" starts about 4 minutes into the video. Every member of the band is burning! (Special shout out to my friend Eric Marienthal, who was with The Elektric Band from its first recording).
Stick around, because at 10:30 Chick starts doing an amazing "call and response" with the audience. He never played down to the crowd, and would often have the audience "tune-up" with him by singing before or during his playing. This is a far cry from the "Everybody say 'PARTY' and wave your hands in the air" engagement that most performers fall back on . The audience becomes part of the song. An amazing gift. I will miss him deeply.
Elektric Band 2004 – SPAIN Chick Corea - Keyboards Frank Gambale - Guitar Eric Marienthal - Sax John Patitucci - Bass Dave Weckl - Drums
