Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 178 - The Artists Behind the Electric Piano Feature! Chick Corea Edition

The electric piano is one of the most indispensable instruments in today's music scene.
This month's article is about Chick Corea, a master of jazz who introduced the electric piano to the jazz genre, which had previously been dominated by acoustic pianos.
Chick Corea introduced the Fender Rhodes electric piano to his band Return to Forever. The album's freshness and innovation surprised the world and created a sensation.
I will talk about Chick Corea on electric piano in his next two albums Return to Forever and Light as a Feather, and get into the birth of the jazz classic “Spain,” using the Fender Rhodes piano as a starting point.

A new instrument was needed to open the door to new music within the jazz genre. The Fender Rhodes piano was a way to open the door into the new era. Its transparent tone helped to create a new kind of jazz as well as pop and rock genres.
The new sound of the Fender Rhodes piano became Chick Corea's calling card, and during his career, it became a long-time must-have instrument, along with the Minimoog synthesizer.
The electric piano's sound, which was different from that of the acoustic piano, opened a window of opportunity in the jazz scene, and the inspiration it brought to Chick Corea helped him to create new jazz standards.

■ Recommended album: Chick Corea, Return to Forever (1972)

This album, loved by jazz fans as a seagull album, was a memorable album that created a sensational buzz in the jazz world, which had previously only focused on acoustic music.
Chick Corea introduced the Fender Rhodes electric piano for the first time in a big way on this album. Jazz musicians at the time were highly conservative and were not keen on introducing electric instruments. It’s not hard to imagine that Miles Davis was the one who triggered this trend. Chick Corea had played electric piano in Miles' band prior to the release of this album, so it is likely that he had no resistance to the electrification of musical instruments.
This electrified jazz became a new category at the time, known as crossover.
This was at the dawn of the genre we now call fusion.
The album was filled with the power that led the era, and the open and fresh sound that developed from the tone of the Rhodes piano captured the hearts of many fans.

Recommended song: Chick Corea, “Sometime Ago/La Fiesta”

The Brazilian-flavored rhythms created by drummer and percussionist Aiato Moreira and bassist Stanley Clarke are wonderful in this song. Chick Corea's music is characterized by Spanish and Latin influences. The clear tones of Chick's Rhodes piano, Joe Farrell's soprano saxophone, and Flora Primo's vocals all come together to create this groove, and one can't help but feel a new breath of fresh air breathed into jazz.
The band's catchy melodies also added a pop sensibility.

■ Recommended Album: Chick Corea, Light as a Feather (1973)

This is the second album released along with Return to Forever. The album concept follows the trend of the previous album. The birth of this album became known as a masterpiece in jazz music history.

Recommended song: “Spain” by Chick Corea

“Spain” opens with the melody of Joaquin Rodrigo's famous “Aranjuez Concerto” and then breaks into the main part of the song.
This is a jazz masterpiece that has earned the respect of many musicians, and I wonder how many musicians have covered this piece. There are quite a few that I am aware of.
This song is also known as a difficult song to play, as it is full of Chick's unique Spanish melody in the opening chime, riff, along with some other tricks. The reason why this song has been covered so many times is because many musicians were attracted by just how cool the song is.
And, the impressive Spanish phrases sound absolutely beautiful and as if they were waiting to be spun from a Fender Rhodes piano.
The driving stick work by Aiato Moreira is excellent.
Chick Corea has recorded this “Spain” with different influences on various albums, but I am convinced that this track from Light as a Feather is their best work. The performance, the rhythm section, the innovation, the improvisation... “Spain” is special in so many ways.
Most covers have yet to surpass the original “Spain”.

I had the opportunity to see Return to Forever perform live in Shizuoka, Japan, and at that time, instead of a Fender Rhodes piano, the band played on a Yamaha MONTAGE synthesizer, using Rhodes piano sounds. For the improvised parts, the Little Fatty Stage II, a Moog synthesizer was set up at the front of the stage. I remember that Jean-Luc Ponty's electric violin, Frank Gambley's guitar, and Stanley Clarke's bass were engaged in a heated ad-lib battle.

The next issue will focus on the vocal version of the song “Spanish” that’s accompanied with the Fender Rhodes Piano.

Musicians, albums, and recommendations featured in this issue

• Artists: Chick Corea, Hubert Rose, Aiart Moreira, Stanley Clarke, Flora Primo, etc.
• Albums: Return to Forever and Light as a Feather
• Recommended songs: “Same Times Ago/La Fuesta” and “Spain”

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