Solo Piano

In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, pianist and composer Chick Corea toured and recorded with Miles Davis during the trumpeter’s groundbreaking electric period, went on to lead the acoustic free-jazz unit Circle, and started the fusion outfit Return to Forever. Around the same time, he recorded a pair of solo albums, Solo Piano Improvisations Vol. 1 and 2, which showed yet another side of his musical personality. It’s exciting to hear his unique voice in this unaccompanied context. One standout, “Song for Sally,” foreshadows “Sea Journey,” a piece with a striking melody that’s been covered by several other artists. Corea counts Thelonious Monk among his key inspirations; check out his high-energy take on Monk’s “Trinkle Tinkle.” This set also includes Children’s Songs, another solo album that was recorded in 1983. One dimension of Corea’s music that comes out here, as well as on the other two albums, is his engagement with the Western Classical tradition, and on “Children’s Songs: Addendum,” the listener is treated to a lively piece for trio that features the violinist Ida Kavafian and the cellist Fred Sherry.