Chick Corea (June 12, 1941 - February 9, 2021) was one of the most influential and versatile pianists and composers in jazz. He is an NEA Jazz Master and his music has been recognized with 27 Grammys and 72 nominations. His early influences were Horace Silver and Bud Powell and he quickly established himself on the jazz scene in the bands of Blue Mitchell, Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Mann, and Stan Getz. His breakthrough came with the 1966 album Tones for Jones Bones, and with the 1968 trio album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes he cemented his place in jazz history. He was part of Miles Davis' groundbreaking fusion productions In a Silent Way and Birches Brew on the Fender Rhodes and after a brief foray into the avant-garde scene with the group Circles, he founded the legendary fusion formation Return to Forever. The most famous Corea compositions Spain, La Fiesta, and 500 Miles High are from the first two ECM recordings with Stanley Clarke on bass, Joe Farrell on soprano saxophone, and Airto and Flora Purim on drums and vocals. He found a lifelong duo partner in vibraphonist Gary Burton, a deep connection that is immediately felt on their first joint release, Crystal Silence (ECM, 1972). Over half a century he has moved between fusion, straight ahead, modern jazz, classical music, from solo concerts to duos and trios to orchestral works with the highest degree of pianistic virtuosity, compositional quality, and countless concert tours and publications. His collaboration with Friedrich Gulda inspired him to perform Mozart's piano concertos, and his collaboration with Paco Di Lucia was also legendary. Until the unexpected end of his life in February 2021, he continued to surprise the world with new and groundbreaking projects.

Chick Corea's joy of making music and virtuoso expressiveness in particular captivated jazz pianist Monika Herzig early on in her career. She studied his music and technique intensively, documented in her book publication "Experiencing Chick Corea: A Listener's Companion". She has lived and worked in the USA since 1988, but has also spent a lot of time in Vienna for the past two years as professor and vice rector at the Jam Music Lab Private University. To celebrate Chick Corea's and also her birthday on June 12, she will be offering an exciting Chick Corea program with the best musicians on the Viennese scene. The audience is invited to join in the celebrations and above all to enjoy the joy of music-making and stylistic range.

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