The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) presents an exclusive concert reuniting two of jazz and contemporary music's most influential icons, and multi-GRAMMY-Award winners, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, Sunday, March 15 at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert talk about the history of Corea and Hancock's collaboration with the Director of the UBC School of Journalism Peter Klein, at 6:15pm in the Royal Bank Cinema.
This historic appearance marks the duo's first tour together in 37 years, with their last joint performance in Vancouver dating back to February of 1978. For this highly anticipated reunion, which will see the two tour around the world, Corea and Hancock will offer up some fresh and free-flowing improvisation interspersed with moments reminiscing on the familiar tunes of their expansive careers and unprecedented first tour together.
Downbeat Hall of Famer Chick Corea's early career was spent playing with the distinguished Miles Davis Quintet, the sounds of his electronic keyboard helping to define the jazz-fusion genre that rocked the early '70s. Corea's vision and innovation is behind quintessential albums Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes; Blue Note, 1968), Paris Concert (with Circle: Anthony Braxton,
Dave Holland and Barry Altschul; ECM, 1971) and perhaps most famously, Return to Forever (with Return to Forever: Joe Farrell, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreria and Flora Purim; ECM, 1972).
Corea's unwavering talent brought him success in both solo and collaborative projects including his more recent discography addition, Trilogy. Such artistic endeavours have earned the virtuoso a historical number of GRAMMY wins (he's won 22 awards, including two recent at the 2015 GRAMMY's), and nominations (he's received 63 nods which makes him the fourth-most nominated artist in the industry). Corea has teamed with artists from jazz legend Lionel Hampton to new-generation pianist Stefano Bollani, from banjoist Béla Fleck to vocal superstar
Bobby McFerrin and vibraphonist
Gary Burton to name only a few. In 2010 he received the Richard J. Bogomolny Award from Chamber Music America for his original composition of The Continents: Concerto for Jazz Quintet and Chamber Orchestra. This tireless artist continues an active career in music, performing with the world's foremost musicians including this latest tour with the equally renowned Herbie Hancock.
Legendary pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, now in the fifth decade of his professional career, is an icon of modern music. His lengthy friendship with
Chick Corea dates back to their Miles Davis days, Hancock precluding Corea with the group as part of the "second great quintet". Following his five years with Miles Davis, where he developed some of the greatest standards known to jazz, Hancock went on to establish himself as a chart-topping soloist with such classics as Maiden Voyage,
Empyrean Isles, and Speak Like a Child. He later introduced a new sensation to the world, when his band the Head Hunters' debut album, Chameleon, was the first jazz album to go platinum. Hancock continued to collaborate with fellow acoustic jazz pioneers, among them Corea who he famously toured alongside as a piano duo and force to be reckoned with in the '70s.
Corea and Hancock would be brought together later in their careers, but not before Hancock would reach several career milestones, including producing the first solo album of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, releasing a series of illustrious duets with Bill Laswell, and receiving an Oscar for his scoring of the 1986 film Round Midnight.
Today Hancock remains at music's cutting edge, and has been called upon to play at some of the world's most prestigious venues. He has performed and recorded with acclaimed artists that cross genres between jazz, pop, rock and more including Sting, Oscar Peterson, Leonard Cohen, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell and Carlos Santana.
"Herbie is a musical phenomenon and a rare human being," says Chick Corea. "To me he's been a dear friend as well as a lifelong inspiration. Our duets are rare and precious." Adds Herbie Hancock: "It is a privilege to perform with Chick, his talent as a musician is beyond reproach. Our relationship was formed through music and synergy. Chick and I are compatible in so many ways. He absolutely encourages and supports while inspiring creativity with no boundaries."
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