With a new album together and an upcoming date here in town, Night Train will feature music of Chick Corea and Gary Burton throughout September.
Pianist and composer Chick Corea is one of the most popular and well-known artists in jazz today. Early in his career he worked with Cab Calloway and Latin jazz greats like Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria. In the late '60s he joined Miles Davis; then with another Davis alum, Dave Holland, he formed the adventurous group, Circle, before moving on to put together one of the most popular bands in jazz fusion, Return to Forever (which reunited in 2008). Established as a major artist (with over 50 Grammy nominations and 18 awards), Corea has recorded under his own name, with his Elektric and Akoustic bands and Origin, in solo settings, and in duos - including and especially with vibes player Gary Burton.
Burton is one of the great innovators of the jazz vibes, with an groundbreaking four-mallet technique that expanded the palette of the instrument. After studying at the Berklee College of Music (where he would go on to be an influential educator), Burton worked with George Shearing and Stan Getz before forming his own pioneering proto-fusion Quartet. He would lead a number of ensembles over the years, and seemed to have a knack for including in them rising stars of jazz guitar - including Jerry Hahn, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and, in his latest lineup, the New Quartet, Julian Lage. Burton, too, has been a Grammy award winner, nominated for 15 and winning six.
Throughout September, Night Train highlights music of Chick Corea and Gary Burton, both together and in the wide range of solo and group projects both have done in their long and accomplished careers.
Chick Corea and Gary Burton talk about their new release, Hot House
http://www.youtube.com/user/concordrecords?v=U8gA4HSpHYY
A '70s performance of the Corea composition, Señor Mouse, by Corea and Burton
