Chic Corea (1941-2021)
I first discovered Chic Corea and the rock fusion band Return to Forever through my father’s LP collection. Dad would play Return to Forever’s album Romantic Warrior (1976) over and over again. Later came Musicmagic (1977) with wider instrumentation.
Return to Forever
What’s been influential for me in Chick Corea’s music is the freedom for players in his arrangements. Along with Chic Corea, the Return to Forever musicians are Lenny White, Al di Meola and Stanley Clarke. The way he treats phrase structures with repeated short melodies bursting into long, soaring lines, is intuitively crafted. Dramatic. Virtuosic. What a talent!
Back cover of Return to Forever’s Romantic Warrior
Musicmagic
