Corea, Burton Bring Jazz To Jorgensen

By: Joe Budzelek

Posted: 1/26/07

Over the last few years, some of the most acclaimed living jazz artists have flocked to perform at UConn. Most recently, artists like Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, Dave Holland and Sun Ra have entertained on the stages of the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and von der Mehden Recital Hall. This weekend, the school will to host a rare duet performance from jazz legends pianist Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton.

Prior to their musical collaboration that has lasted for over three decades, both musicians paved their own unique ways onto the jazz scene. Corea was born in 1941 in Chelsea, Mass., a suburb just a stone's throw from Boston. Corea started playing piano at the age of five and learned to play the drums at age eight. Corea's familiarity with drums helped develop his ear for rhythm on the piano. After studying at Columbia University and The Juilliard School, Corea was noted by a professor, composer Peter Schickele, as "the most awake student [he] ever taught." Beginning his professional music career in the '60s, Corea played with trumpeter Blue Mitchell.

Throughout his career, Corea has performed on dozens of albums with jazz legends like Miles Davis and Stan Getz. Over his 40-year career, Corea has been nominated for 45 Grammy awards and won 12 times.

Raised in Indiana, a rather atypical breeding ground for jazz musicians, Burton's musical history is as unique as his musical style. Burton taught himself to play the vibraphone at a young age, and by at the age of 17 he had already made his recording debut with guitar great Chet Atkins. Burton has been noted as one of the vibraphonists that developed playing vibes with four mallets instead of the standard two.

Over his nearly four decade career, Burton has recorded with Roy Haynes, Pat Metheny and Stan Getz, to name a few. Like Corea, Burton has been widely nominated for Grammy considerations: he has been nominated twelve times and has earned five Grammy awards.

Corea and Burton first combined their talents with their 1972 debut release "Crystal Silence." After recording five albums, they have earned two Grammy awards together. While their live performances together are rare, their musical connection is always strong.

"It's never been a reunion," Corea says. "Me and Gary continue to just play […] It's kind of worked out very, very nicely. It's a special little place that's all its own; Just me and him."

People who have been lucky enough to catch the duo's performances have been extremely impressed.

"Both Corea and Burton have their individual musical quirks, but the way they read each other and improvise makes listening to them a veritable pleasure," says Jerry D'Souza of AllAboutJazz.com.

This performance is certainly a must for any student who has even a mild interest in jazz. The duo is playing Friday and Saturday night at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. The performance will start at 8 p.m. both nights and doors will open at 7 p.m. Student tickets are $14 and $20.