The Great Chick Corea last words to continue joy of creating
The Great Chick Corea last words to continue joy of creating

His last words

“I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright. It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It’s not only that the world needs more artists, it’s also just a lot of fun.” wrote the legendary Chick Corea before his departure on 9 february 2021, due to a rare cancer that abruptly interrupted his genius.

Spanish connection

With the “Concierto de Aranjuez” as his base, the percussion and vocal caress of Brazil and the flamenco guitar of Paco de Lucía as his ally, Chick Corea was one of the great pioneers who knew how to successfully incorporate his Latin heritage into international jazz.

23 Grammys

He has the fourth highest number of Grammy nominations, 65, of which he received 23, as well as four Latin Grammys, three of them in the “instrumental album” category, more than any other artist, specifically for the albums “The Enchantment” (2006), “Forever” (2010) and “Further explorations” (2011).

In addition to these, “The Vigil” (2013) was awarded “Best Latin Jazz Album”, but before arriving there, in the last part of his life, the road he had travelled had been prolific and extensive when it came to gathering his family heritage and projecting it to the world.

A personal side…

Born Armando Anthony Corea (Chelsea/USA, 1941) into a family of Italian descent, he learned the fundamentals of the genre as the son of a trumpeter named Armando J. Corea and took his first professional steps alongside figures such as Dizzie Gillespie and Miles Davis. One of his drive was since the 70ies the “Joy of Creating“, an article written by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, which Corea embraced since the 70s after reading the book Dianetics. In fact he directed and participated what was announced as the “Stay Well Concert“, organized and broadcasted at the Scientology Network, where he wanted to transmit a sense of positivity in times of COVID-19.

From Miles Davis to Flamenco

Back to his historic and background, the influence of Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain” must have been strongly engraved in his ear, since twelve years after the release of that emblematic album, he also took Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” as a musical idea around which to orbit to create a historical piece, “Spain”.

He had previously released the no less referential “Return To Forever” (1972) with the group of the same name, which included another emblematic song of his production, “La fiesta”, with which he had opened the way to an encounter with flamenco.

He continued to investigate in the same direction, both on the band’s next album, “Light As A Feather” (1973), which included the aforementioned “Spain”, and on “My Spanish Heart” (1976), a very personal project that once again combined Hispanic tradition and electronic modernity.

Warm and wild at the same time

Warm and wild at the same time, between soft “pianissimos” and abrupt tempo changes, it contained pieces like the ambitious suites “Spanish Fantasy” and “El Bozo” or the amusing “Armando’s Rhumba”, with his hand-clapping in the background.

Some of these themes became anthological pieces of his production and it was not unusual to see him reinterpret them hand in hand with other icons, as was the case with Herbie Hancock in the albums they released together at the end of that decade.

As for the influence of flamenco in her music, this was even more evident in “Touchstone” (1982), in which she had the guest guitar of Paco de Lucía in the middle of a repertoire full of songs with Spanish names, see “Duende“.

Compadres

Among a large list of collaborators from the Latin music scene, such as Carles Benavent, Don Alias and Álex Acuña, that album also allowed her to return with some of her former colleagues from Return To Forever, such as Stanley Clarke, to produce the song “Compadres“.

He never strayed completely from the path he himself had set out and it was not unusual to see him return to it, as with the aforementioned “The Vigil” (2013), or when he released another of his most acclaimed albums, “Corea.Concerto: Spain For Sextet & Orchestra / Piano Concerto No. 1” (1999), which featured Avishai Ochen and once again turned his gaze to “Spain”, considered by many to be the best composition of his career.

You can watch the 1 hour video documentary “Chick Corea: In the mind of the Master” here, where he presents his latest album Antidote.

Over 10 million views of Spread a Smile – Scientology artists
Over 10 million views of Spread a Smile – Scientology artists

by The Brussels Press Club

What would happen if you’d ask a few friends from all around the world to spread a smile and stay well? That’s what the Church of Scientology did by reaching to musicians and singers all over the world, and the result is quite something. Dozens of artists responded by creating a collaborative song that they videoed with the help of Scientology Media Productions, a production center which creates all kind of media content, from TV broadcasting and film creation to internet content and musical production.

Amongst the artists, some big names can be recognized, such as Chick Corea who won his 23th Grammy award this year, bass legend Staley Clarke, film composers Mark Isham and David Campbell, and many others (see the list at the bottom of the page).

The song advocates ‘spreading a smile’ during these difficult times of worldwide quarantine:

We can lift this world from quarantine

From your phone

Pick it up, pick it up, just pick it up

Take this shot with me

Spread a smile

Not something else

’Cause this world is really needing your help

Spread a smile

And nothing more

And we’ll show this world it can be restored

If you have not seen it yet, just go to Spread a smile #staywell on Youtube and enjoy.

The Church of Scientology had already launched its online Resource Center https://www.scientology.org/staywell/ some weeks ago which gives a comprehensive overview in a series of booklets and videos providing of basic information about what you can do to help keep yourself and others well along with tools for effective prevention against infection by the Coronavirus, and in fact, viruses in general.

Whilst churches of Scientology have reoriented their activities towards servicing their parishioners through teleworking and other means during the pandemic, following various governmental recommendations, Church volunteers continue to be active in helping their communities deal with the dangers that exist. The video “Spread a Smile” is one of the numerous initiatives taken by the Church and Scientologists to help the community during these difficult times.

List of artists who participated to Spread a Smile:

Chick Corea, Mark Isham, Stanley Clarke, David Campbell, Greg Camp, Kate Ceberano, Kerri Kasem, Andrés López, Diego Verdaguer, David Pomeranz, Alberto Plaza, David Broza, Carlitos Del Puerto, Michele Henderson, Tebogo Louw, The Jive Aces (Ian Clarkson, Vince Hurley, Alex Douglas, John Fordham, Kenneth Smith, Peter Howell & Grazia Clarkson), Claude Racine, Noah Valinsky, Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Hana-li Pendery, Gina Briganti-Camp, Ana Victoria Boccadoro Miguel, Nick Isham, Raven Campbell, Luis Eric Gonzalez, Khai Aziz, Jess Fairlie, Alexander Markov, Brian Silva, Gianluca Scipioni, Ryder Green, Wil Seabrook,Valerie Fahren, Joost Griffioen, Julius Dilligard, Carmelo Sorce, Louise Dubie

20 Dutch Musicians Weave Together Beethoven’s Best Melody From Their Own Homes—And the Results Are Glorious
20 Dutch Musicians Weave Together Beethoven’s Best Melody From Their Own Homes—And the Results Are Glorious

By the Good News Network

Twenty Dutch musicians from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra were forced to stay sequestered in their homes this week amidst COVID-19 shutdowns—but they still came together in harmony to produce a powerful music video for the world.

With a full string section, woodwinds, and brass horns, the video opens with the familiar notes of the triumphant Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, first played almost 200 years ago.

“We’re adjusting to a new reality and we’ll have to find solutions in order to support each other,” wrote the team on YouTube. “Creative forces help us.”

“Let’s think outside of the box and use innovation to keep our connection and make it work, together. Because if we do it together, we’ll succeed.”

Known also as “the choral symphony”, it was the first ever symphony composed using voices, which come in near the end of the composition.

The four-minute YouTube clip reaches that crescendo with an unseen choir recorded singing the glorious words of the German poem, An die Freude (Ode To Joy), by Friedrich Schiller—the poem chosen by Beethoven to accompany his final masterpiece.

Glad, as his suns fly
Through the Heavens’ glorious plan,
Run, brothers, your race, Joyful,
as a hero to victory.
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!

(WATCH the wonderful video below)