Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=333082&type=Feature
From Thelonius to Afro-Cuban
Created: 2007-10-1
Author:Zhang Qian
Shanghai, considered a jazz city, is expecting another jazz concert, this one delivered by a Grammy winner.
Chick Corea, a multi-Grammy-winning American jazz master, will perform a solo piano jazz recital, comprised of his own compositions as well as his favorites standards from composers such as Bud Powell, Thelonius Monk and Alexander Scriabin at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center on Saturday. Improvisation and children's songs will also be on the list.
Considering the staggering volume of his recorded output over the past 40 years, it is no overstatement to call Corea one of the most prolific composers of the second half of the 20th century.
From avant-garde to bebop, from children's songs to straight ahead, from hard-hitting fusion to heady forays into classical, Corea has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is simply uncanny.
A restlessly creative spirit, he continues to explore and generate new material for a number of different vehicles, including his dynamic Elektric band and his flamenco-flavored Touchstone band.
"I decided when I was a young man to make it my primary policy to always keep myself interested and challenged with music," says Corea. "I've managed to avoid falling into the habit of doing the same thing over and over again, and it's really proved to be a good thing for me.
"I don't care about the other things, I care that I'm having a lot of fun and creating. So I feel honored or lucky to be able to continue to do that and be able to make a living doing it."
His new album, "The Ultimate Adventure," in which Latin and African elements are mixed, has just won Grammies, including Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement. It is the 14th time Corea has won a Grammy in his almost 50-year music career, which includes 70 albums.
Talking about his unique style, Corea says that his working with Pil Barboza's Latin Dance Band in high school was a precious experience, as was his introduction to Afro-Cuban music. "The fantastic rhythms with people on the dance floor full of enthusiasm was such a refreshing change from the relative seriousness of jazz," says Corea. "That music is so amazing that I've always been inspired by it."
As for the spirit of jazz, Corea believes that music should be free, and musicians should make the music they like, and do what they think is right.
Date: October 6, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 100-1,200 yuan
Tel: 5461-0027
Chick Corea, a multi-Grammy-winning American jazz master, will perform a solo piano jazz recital, comprised of his own compositions as well as his favorites standards from composers such as Bud Powell, Thelonius Monk and Alexander Scriabin at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center on Saturday. Improvisation and children's songs will also be on the list.
Considering the staggering volume of his recorded output over the past 40 years, it is no overstatement to call Corea one of the most prolific composers of the second half of the 20th century.
From avant-garde to bebop, from children's songs to straight ahead, from hard-hitting fusion to heady forays into classical, Corea has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is simply uncanny.
A restlessly creative spirit, he continues to explore and generate new material for a number of different vehicles, including his dynamic Elektric band and his flamenco-flavored Touchstone band.
"I decided when I was a young man to make it my primary policy to always keep myself interested and challenged with music," says Corea. "I've managed to avoid falling into the habit of doing the same thing over and over again, and it's really proved to be a good thing for me.
"I don't care about the other things, I care that I'm having a lot of fun and creating. So I feel honored or lucky to be able to continue to do that and be able to make a living doing it."
His new album, "The Ultimate Adventure," in which Latin and African elements are mixed, has just won Grammies, including Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement. It is the 14th time Corea has won a Grammy in his almost 50-year music career, which includes 70 albums.
Talking about his unique style, Corea says that his working with Pil Barboza's Latin Dance Band in high school was a precious experience, as was his introduction to Afro-Cuban music. "The fantastic rhythms with people on the dance floor full of enthusiasm was such a refreshing change from the relative seriousness of jazz," says Corea. "That music is so amazing that I've always been inspired by it."
As for the spirit of jazz, Corea believes that music should be free, and musicians should make the music they like, and do what they think is right.
Date: October 6, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 100-1,200 yuan
Tel: 5461-0027
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