Chick Corea Elektric Band
Encyclopedia
Chick Corea Elektric Band is a jazz fusion
band, led by pianist Chick Corea
. Following the demise of Return to Forever
, Corea established the musical ensemble in 1986. Following a long hiatus, the band reunited to produce "To the Stars" in 2004.
The band's debut album
can be described as "jazz-rock", though it is much closer to traditional jazz than the jazz-rock albums of 1970s. The keyboard sounds on the album are typical for the mid-1980s. The drums played by Dave Weckl
dominate the album's sound, with the guitar duties split between Scott Henderson
and Carlos Rios.
The second album, Light Years (1987) is more funk-oriented than its predecessor. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal
joins the band and Frank Gambale
replaces Henderson and Rios (who plays still on some tracks) to form what is considered the band's definitive lineup.
The third album, Eye of the Beholder, relies on softer sounds. Here Corea relies on acoustic piano, with synthesizers largely in the background. Gambale also plays acoustic guitar on some tracks, lending a Flamenco-influenced sound to pieces like "Eternal Child."
The Elektric Band's fourth album, Inside Out (1991), features some compositions that fall in the post-bop rather than the fusion category. The four-part piece "Tale of Daring", which closes the album, relies on unconventional melodies and relatively free improvisation. But two other compositions, the title track and "Kicker," are more traditional fusion pieces. Corea still uses mostly acoustic piano, but Gambale plays electric guitar throughout.
The last album featuring the band's traditional lineup was Beneath the Mask (1991), a return to the electric jazz-funk of the second album.
For the next album, Elektric Band II: Paint the World (1993), only Corea and Marienthal returned from the original lineup. Gary Novak became a new drummer, Jimmy Earl
took the bass, and Mike Miller
played guitar. The album's style can be described as modern jazz, crossing between post-bop and fusion.
In 1996, the band teamed up with Steve Vai
's Monsters to record a version of "Rumble" from West Side Story
for the RCA Victor tribute album called The Songs of West Side Story.
The original members reunited in 2004 for To the Stars (2004), which is stylistically close to the avant-garde and post-bop on Inside Out.
After the final studio album the band has toured also with Victor Wooten
who has replaced Patitucci.
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band, led by pianist Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
. Following the demise of Return to Forever
Return to Forever
Return to Forever is a jazz fusion group founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. Through its existence, the band has cycled through a number of different members, with the only consistent band mate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke...
, Corea established the musical ensemble in 1986. Following a long hiatus, the band reunited to produce "To the Stars" in 2004.
The band's debut album
The Chick Corea Elektric Band (album)
The Chick Corea Elektric Band is an album by jazz keyboard player Chick Corea, released in 1986. It is the eponymous debut album of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, which at that time also featured drummer Dave Weckl, bass player John Patitucci and guitarists Scott Henderson and Carlos Rios.The album...
can be described as "jazz-rock", though it is much closer to traditional jazz than the jazz-rock albums of 1970s. The keyboard sounds on the album are typical for the mid-1980s. The drums played by Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl is a highly acclaimed jazz fusion drummer. Weckl attended Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO and graduated in 1978. He majored in jazz studies at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut...
dominate the album's sound, with the guitar duties split between Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson is a fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech.-Early days:Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age...
and Carlos Rios.
The second album, Light Years (1987) is more funk-oriented than its predecessor. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal
Eric Marienthal
Eric Marienthal is a Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres....
joins the band and Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale
Frank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
replaces Henderson and Rios (who plays still on some tracks) to form what is considered the band's definitive lineup.
The third album, Eye of the Beholder, relies on softer sounds. Here Corea relies on acoustic piano, with synthesizers largely in the background. Gambale also plays acoustic guitar on some tracks, lending a Flamenco-influenced sound to pieces like "Eternal Child."
The Elektric Band's fourth album, Inside Out (1991), features some compositions that fall in the post-bop rather than the fusion category. The four-part piece "Tale of Daring", which closes the album, relies on unconventional melodies and relatively free improvisation. But two other compositions, the title track and "Kicker," are more traditional fusion pieces. Corea still uses mostly acoustic piano, but Gambale plays electric guitar throughout.
The last album featuring the band's traditional lineup was Beneath the Mask (1991), a return to the electric jazz-funk of the second album.
For the next album, Elektric Band II: Paint the World (1993), only Corea and Marienthal returned from the original lineup. Gary Novak became a new drummer, Jimmy Earl
Jimmy Earl
Jimmy Earl is an American jazz musician and composer. He has released two studio albums and recorded extensively. He has toured the world with major artists. He is ranked #22 on the DigitalDreamDoor list of greatest fusion bassists...
took the bass, and Mike Miller
Mike Miller (guitarist)
Mike Miller is a Los Angeles-based guitarist known for playing various styles of music including jazz fusion, rock, pop and more, and has played with Chick Corea, Bette Midler, Yellowjackets, Gino Vanelli, Chad Wackerman, Vinnie Colaiuta, Quincy Jones, Brand X, and Burton Cummings...
played guitar. The album's style can be described as modern jazz, crossing between post-bop and fusion.
In 1996, the band teamed up with Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
's Monsters to record a version of "Rumble" from West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
for the RCA Victor tribute album called The Songs of West Side Story.
The original members reunited in 2004 for To the Stars (2004), which is stylistically close to the avant-garde and post-bop on Inside Out.
After the final studio album the band has toured also with Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
who has replaced Patitucci.
Discography
- The Chick Corea Elektric BandThe Chick Corea Elektric Band (album)The Chick Corea Elektric Band is an album by jazz keyboard player Chick Corea, released in 1986. It is the eponymous debut album of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, which at that time also featured drummer Dave Weckl, bass player John Patitucci and guitarists Scott Henderson and Carlos Rios.The album...
(1986) - Light Years (1987)
- Eye of the BeholderEye of the Beholder (album)Eye of the Beholder is a 1988 Album by the Chick Corea Elektric Band. It features Chick Corea with guitarist Frank Gambale, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, drummer Dave Weckl and bassist John Patitucci.-Track listing:#"Home Universe" – 2:43...
(1988) - Inside Out (1990)
- Beneath the Mask (1991)
- Elektric Band II: Paint the World (1993)
- To the StarsTo the Stars (album)To the Stars is an album by American jazz fusion group the Chick Corea Elektric Band, released on August 24, 2004 by Stretch Records. Jazz musician Chick Corea, a longtime member of the Church of Scientology, was inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's science fiction 1954 novel To the Stars...
(2004)