Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea (1941-2021) was a pioneering pianist, composer, and bandleader whose work helped jazz fusion reach its full flower in the 1960s and beyond. Born in Massachusetts, he briefly studied music in New York City (at Columbia and Juilliard) before striking out on his own as a gigging musician. In 1968, he became a regular in Miles Davis‘s band, appearing on some of their most famous recordings. He went on to distinguish himself as both a soloist and collaborator, forming several bands and participating in countless duet projects with figures ranging from Bela Fleck to Bobby McFerrin. Many of his compositions have become jazz standards, and his work was recognized with 27 Grammy Awards spanning 46 years. See more about him at his website, Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, NPR, and The Guardian.
Spain may be Corea’s most enduring contribution to the jazz canon. It first appeared on the 1971 album Light as a Feather, recorded with his band Return to Forever. It opens with a nod to Joaquin Rodrigo‘s Concierto de Aranjuez (mvt II: Adagio) before launching into a full-throated samba. It has its own Wikipedia entry, a spot on the Stories of Standards, and an article in The Atlantic in which Corea tells its origin story. Corea himself rearranged it countless times, and it has been covered by dozens of artists. There is even a version for concert band! Here it is in Paul Murtha’s arrangement:
It’s first appearance, from Light as a Feather:
A live version from 2004:
A favorite of mine, with Bobby McFerrin in 2012:
The Rodrigo excerpt that inspired Spain‘s opening: