Celebrating a superb Corea

Jun 29 2007 by Alan Nichol, Evening Chronicle

WITHOUT doubt the gig of this week has to be the world-class pairing, at The Sage Gateshead on Sunday, of jazz pianist Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton.

Two renowned performers with a special chemistry, perfected over many years of working together, cannot fail to deliver a magical night of rhythmic and melodic adventure.

Piano and vibraphone are both percussion (and keyboard, of course) instruments, after all, so it’s no surprise that the duo move into the telepathic zone on their vast repertoire.

Chick Corea was born into an Italian/Spanish family in Chelsea – the Massachusetts one – just across the river from Boston, and he first tickled the eighty-eights at the age of five.

His father played Dixieland jazz, which obviously was a help, but by the age of eight young Chick was also playing drums.

In his teens he moved to New York City where he attended both Columbia University and the famed Juilliard School of Music – his tutor at the latter called him “the most awake student I ever taught” – but he left both quickly in order to pursue his true calling.

His early collaborations were with flautist Herbie Mann and then Blue Mitchell and Hugo Santamaria.

Corea’s first album as leader, in 1966, rejoiced in the title of Tones For Joan’s Bones! His subsequent three-year spell with Miles Davis (including the benchmark album, Bitches Brew) where he was gradual replacement for Herbie Hancock, was to prove inspiring.

The next decade saw Corea stretch still further with his exploration of fusion jazz through his Return To Forever band, who released their South American-influenced debut in 1972.

That same year saw the release of Crystal Silence, the first dual release by Corea and Burton. This tour marks the 35th anniversary of that recording.

Corea has ranged from classical through fusion to rock and world music. He has just completed an album called The Enchantment with celebrated Nashville banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, which the Washington Post described as “supernatural.”

Self-taught Burton made his recording debut at 17 with guitarists Chet Atkins and Hank Garland.

Shortly after that he joined George Shearing then Stan Getz. He has, at the last count, five Grammy awards, recorded tango music in Argentina, tackled numerous classical themes and has also worked with a huge list of top-ranking musicians from Dave Holland through to Pat Metheny.

There is a very strong rumour, call it a near certainty, that another world-ranked performer – Tyneside’s very own resident maestro, saxophonist/composer/arranger and band-leader Tim Garland – may make a guest appearance on Sunday. Tim has toured the world with Chick and has just returned from Australia after working with the pair.

Tim takes up the tale: “I’ve just been down to Sydney Opera House and recorded with them (Corea and Burton) and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

“Chick is one of the top three jazz pianists in the world and Gary really does take the breath away. They sound like an orchestra, just the two of them – their playing was stunning.”

Garland’s new album, The Mystery, includes Chick and the Northern Sinfonia and was recorded at The Sage. He is currently working on music for a project with the Royal Philharmonic and, in complete contrast, still has his Acoustic Triangle project (with pianist Gwilym Simcock and bassist Malcolm Creese).

He is about to embark on yet more travel very soon, as he explains: “I have a big tour around the UK with the Northern Underground Orchestra just after the summer and a new album.

“It’s been running (NUO) for around seven years now but this is a related, sister project with players from outside London, from the North West and the North East. All pieces are on the subject of the North with titles like Red Ellen, Tynemouth Spray, Angel Of the North etc.”

Watch out for that in the autumn. Info for the Corea/Burton show from the Sage on (0191) 443 4661.

FANS of all things brass, musically speaking, will be interested in the programme of events called Durham Brass which commences on Sunday and runs for a couple of weeks.

There are any number of events which fall under this page’s header with the likes of folkies, Bellowhead, on Monday, followed closely by Oren Marshall (Tuesday), Kiku Collins (Wednesday) fresh from a tour with Beyonce, Norway’s Brazz Brothers (Thursday) and Dennis Rollins (July 12). Rollins has been called the “most exciting British trombonist for decades” by Jazzwise. Details on (0191) 332 4041.

IF it’s African music, or dancing, that you crave then the place to be tomorrow night is Newcastle Civic Centre (Banqueting Suite) where you will find Zaire’s Kanda Bongo Man and Brixton-based band Frititi.

The North East of England African Community Association sponsors this annual celebration of African culture and the Zairean Soukous guitar-propelled dance music of KBM and the drum sensation that is Frititi will no doubt prove to be an irresistible combination.

The evening runs from 7pm to midnight and ticket info is available on (0191) 265 1155.