Chick Corea, Jazz fusion great and piano legend, dead at 79

American jazz composer and electric keyboard pioneer Chick Corea, who redefined the genre with his fusion work, has died of a rare form of cancer at the age of 79. A statement released on his Facebook profile on Thursday stated the illness “was only discovered very recently”. 

“I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright,” Corea said in a message he left prior to his death on February 9 which his team released in the statement.  

“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,” the 23-time Grammy winner said. 

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Along with Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, Corea was among the select group to emerge as the most influential pianists of the 20th century.  

Composer and bandleader, Corea’s most prominent works include ‘Spain’, ‘500 Miles High’ and ‘La Fiesta’. He established himself as a revolutionary of the 1970’s jazz fusion era, experimenting with rock and electronic sounds to push the genre into the contemporary era. 

“We have a mission to go out there and be an antidote to war, and all of the dark side of what happens on Planet Earth,” AFP quoted Corea saying on the NPR program “Jazz Night in America” in 2018.

“We’re the ones that go in and remind people about their creativity.”

Born on June 12, 1941, to a family of Italian-Americans in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Armando Corea was introduced to piano at an young age by his father, a jazz trumpet player. 

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Corea also played the drums and performed at local gigs in high school before studying music at Columbia and Julliard and finally quit to play full time. 

In the early 1960s he worked with greats including Stan Getz and Herbie Mann, later replacing Hancock in Miles Davis’ band, an icon Corea influenced into his electronic period that included classics like “Bitches Brew.”

Corea routinely used a ring modulator to create his pioneering effects on the electric piano, at a time when synths were rarely seen onstage.

The musician, known for his improvisational chops, started his own free jazz group, Circle, which was active from 1970-1971, when Corea began expanding on the percussiveness of the piano by plucking the strings inside the instrument’s body.

In 1971, he co-founded his most famous group, Return to Forever, melding acoustic and electronic instrumentation with a Latin American bent.

A pioneer of solo piano shows, Corea was a master of everything from classical to standards to swing and Latin jazz, touring relentlessly until the pandemic halted live concerts.

“This man changed my life thru his music and we were able to play together many times,” tweeted Sheila E., an acclaimed jazz drummer and Prince protege.

“Chick, you are missed dearly, your music and brilliant light will live on forever.”

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Corea’s mammoth discography earned him more than 67 Grammy nominations.

He has more jazz Grammys than any other artist, and is up for two awards at next month’s ceremony honoring music’s brightest: Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “All Blues” and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for “Trilogy 2.”

Corea was named a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master in 2006. At the time of his death he was member of the Church of Scientology and lived in Clearwater, Florida.

“Throughout his life and career, Chick relished in the freedom and the fun to be had in creating something new, and in playing the games that artists do,” the statement announcing his death read.

“Though he would be the first to say that his music said more than words ever could,” the statement said, Corea left a message imparting upon his “amazing musician friends who have been like family” that “it has been a blessing and an honor learning from and playing with all of you.”

“My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could,” read Corea’s words.

“And to have done so with all the artists that I admire so dearly — this has been the richness of my life.”