Chick Corea’s Big Birthday Bash Residency

The residency features Corea with various musicians and lineups.  Highlights include revisiting Return To Forever in acoustic and electric modes. With Lenny White playing drums in both groups, acoustic will feature Corea performing with Ravi Coltrane (sax), Hubert Laws (flute), and Avishai Cohen (bass) while the “electric” has him playing with John McLaughlin (guitar) and Victor Wooten (bass).

Other features include a Steve Gadd week focused on Corea’s longtime musical partnership with the drummer extraordinaire; “For Miles,” which is a celebration of the music of Miles Davis, and “Experiments In Electronica” starring Corea and his accomplishments on electronic keyboards, including playing with Miles Davis, Return To Forever, and the Elektric Band.

This won’t be the first time Corea has taken over The Blue Note.  In 2001, the musician marked his 60th day at the venue by playing a two-week engagement. He returned to The Blue Note for a month-long residency celebrating his 70th birthday.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Corea’s birthdate is June 12.  So you still have time to send him a card.

“From the level of talent that will be presented to the number of shows to the overall duration, this is an unrivaled residency in so many ways,” Blue Note Entertainment Group president Steven Bensusan said.  “You never see an artist take residency in a venue for this amount of time consecutively, and on this scale.”

Oct. 19-23 – The Chick Corea Elektric Band: Corea (keyboards), Eric Marienthal (saxes), Frank Gamble (guitar), John Patitucci (bass), Dave Weckl (drums)

Oct. 26-30 – For Miles: Corea (keyboards), Kenny Garrett (saxes), Wallace Roney (trumpet), Mike Stern (guitar), Marcus Miller (bass), Brian Blade (drums)

Nov. 2-3 – Three Quartets Band: Corea (piano), Steve Gadd (drums), Eddie Gomez (bass), Ben Solomon (sax)

Nov. 4-6 – The Leprechaun Band – Corea (keyboards), Steve Gadd (drums), Gayle Moran Corea (vocals), Steve Wilson (sax & flute), Michael Rodriguez (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Eddie Gomez (acoustic bass), TBA (electric bass)

Nov. 9-10 – Experiments In Electronica: Corea (keyboards and computers), Marcus Gilmore (drums), Leading Genre-Defying Electronic Explorers (TBA)

Nov. 11-13 – Chick’s Flamenco Heart: Corea (Keyboards), Jorge Pardo (sax & flute), Niño Josele (acoustic guitar), Carles Benevant (bass), Tom Brechtlein (drums), Luisito Quintero (percussion), Flamenco Dancer (TBA), Vocalist (TBA)

Nov. 16-17 – The Chick Corea Big Band: Corea (keyboards), Erlend Skomsvoll (arranger & conductor), the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra – 13-Piece Big Band (8 horns, guitar, bass & drums)

Nov. 18-20 – Chick Corea Piano Duets: Corea performing with a different pianist each night

Nov. 22-23 – Chick Corea & Gary Burton with the Harlem String Quartet: Gary Burton (vibes), Ilmar Gavilán (violin), Melissa White (violin), Jaime Amador (viola), Felix Umansky (cello)

Nov. 25-27 – Origin II: Corea (piano), Ravi Coltrane (sax), Steve Wilson (sax & flute), Steve Davis (trombone), Carlitos Del Puerto (bass), Marcus Gilmore (drums)

Nov. 30-Dec. 4 – The Music Of Return To Forever and More (Acoustic): Corea (keyboards), Ravi Coltrane (sax), Hubert Laws (flute), Avishai Cohen (bass), Lenny White (drums)

Dec. 7 – TBA

Dec. 8-12: The Music Of Return To Forever and More (Electric): Corea (keyboards), John McLaughlin (guitar), Victor Wooten (bass), Lenny White (drums)

American Express cardholders can purchase tickets via a presale beginning June 8 at 1 p.m. and running until June 23 at 12:59 p.m. 

General onsales begin June 23 at 1 p.m. All times Eastern Daylight.  Go to ChickCorea.com for more details.