Please join Jazz From Blue Lake today via our jazz stream to hear music of pianist/composer/bandleader Chick Corea, who was born June 12, 1941. This broadcast focuses on his touching farewell performance of solo piano and conversation given in October, 2020, but also includes his rare compositions for big band.
His 1978 "Suite For A Hot Band," written for and played by The Woody Herman Band, combines Corea's penchant for anthemic, march-based drama in the first movement with Herman's love of the blues in the second, and a roaring fast samba, a hall mark of Corea's 1970's popularity, in the third. Check out Joe Lovano's tenor playing from this early in his career.
Years later Corea was commissioned to write a piece for the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble and he chose to honor Boston area trumpeter/bandleader/educator Herb Pomeroy with a suite for big band called "From Forever." We get into the weeds on that during the broadcast.
We'll also hear three different versions of Corea's composition "Crystal Silence." The version by Woody Herman's Band features Gene Smith, trombone, who is from Fruitport, MI.
Here's hoping you enjoy the music and thank you for listening.
(The jazz stream is found at the above link — to the right of the blue bar showing what's streaming live there's a tile that says "All Streams," or, if you're on a smart phone, a star-like icon. Either way, click there to navigate to the jazz stream. If you're using our app, the tile on the front page that says "All Streams" will get you there).
