Chick Corea's first solo trio album as leader, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, released in 1968 is one of my top 10 favorite jazz albums along with Miles Kind of Blue and Keith Jarrett's first solo leader album, Life Between The Exits Signs also released in 1968. Here is a link if interested,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000691U2

Now He Sings has been said to be one of Chick's finest trio albums and has been re-mastered and released with more songs, half standards and the rest Chick's originals. Roy Haynes drums, Mirslav Vitious acoustic bass. When the original album was released in 1968, some critics gave it bad reviews for a variety of reasons. However, the album has continually been noted as being very modern and fresh and was really way ahead of it's time, even to this day. I have tried finding the original reviews, but so far, no good finding them. I am curious though what the critics found unsatisfying in the work.

We were at Berklee in Boston in the 70's and a friend put the record on and I had never heard a trio album so full of energy, creativity, originality, pure fire. At first I was overwhelmed, because I had never heard acoustic jazz piano played like this before, with Chick's flawless technique, intense pentatonic patterns, played at very fast tempo. I had no idea what kind of scales or chords were being layed down. in fact after hearing it, I seriously questioned if I should stay in school, if you have to be that good to make it in the jazz world, I was sinking fast. But after my roommates and friends started analyzing the tunes bar by bar, slowing down passages, things became easier to understand and it wasn't so 'impossible."

I wore out 2 of the original LPs and bought the re-mastered CD which has additional songs the album didn't include.

But warning< the compositions and improvisations on the CD are played with zillions of notes, played rapidly and at a virtuosity level. But if you never heard this album and you're into jazz, check it out

katt

I'm a fan When I first started learning Jazz, I was intimidated to approach anything Chick plays. I can listen but I don't even try to play them. But now I'm constantly focused on playing something from Chick every week and am slowly understanding more and more of what he does. It doesn't hurt that my teacher can emulate Chick reasonably authentically so I get some tips. I tend to credit Corea for being the first 'Modern' Jazz pianist even though he's been around for awhile. To this day he's still so original (and chockfull of fast notes ).

I'm right there with ya jazz. Just today I heard a newer version of Spain played by Chick's latest Electrik Band. I picked up a few lines and will study his solo more closely. Is your teacher helping you learn more about Chick's style and how you can apply some of it in your own playing?

I'd say Chick has mastered the pentatonic thing and stands above all the other jazz pianists with the technique, McCoy Tyner too of course. Playing pentatonic patterns so precise like Chick does is a tough one, especially getting the fingerings together with 4ths and 5th intervals spacing and getting from one note to the next without struggling.

I met and talked to Chick after an Akoustic Band concert at winter NAMM Ananheim and asked him about his approach to pentatonics. He told me Bill Dobbins transcribed the entire Now He Sings album and to get the book which best demonstrates learning the technique. Book seems to be outta print and can't find it. i'll keep looking though.

katt

if he just simply cut a few it would be perfect

katt, I delved deep into 'Tones for Jones Bones' and 'Windows' with my teacher. So we got into everything from his voicings, to his swing style, to his familiar fifth interval sound. My teacher doesn't do licks so for what notes he plays I rely on my ears.

Of course, I'm not Gadi, so I don't have the technical ability to execute Chick style. But when I get there, at least the information will be useful. Not that I'm trying to play like Chick as Gadi was doing but stylistically, it's nice to have the ability to vary.

One thing that my teacher has the capability of doing is emulating several player's styles, even though he has his own. He does a pretty kick-ass emulation of McCoy too with the pentatonics.

If you want to judge people by their musically, then I think you should really listen to how these players play ballads. Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, Oscar Peterson, Michel Petrucianni can play all these virtuossic stuff, but the can also play very simple/melodically over a ballads.

These guys aren't playing all those notes to show off, they are playing what is needed for that particular song. Just listen to how Oscar plays Place St. Henri and Wheatland on his "Canadiana Suite". He can do all.