A rare visit to the KPLU Studios: Jazz piano legend Chick Corea

In November, Chick Corea celebrated his 70th birthday with four weeks of concerts at The Blue Note in New York. However, when he walked into the KPLU studios in early December it was impossible to see him as a 70-year-old man.

He looks 20 years younger, acts 40 years younger and plays piano with as much passion, creativity and fire as he ever did.

During his visit with interviewer Kevin Kniestedt, Chick talked about how he organized his month-long Blue Note Bash with 10 different groups and 30 musicians and how vital it is for him to maintain the perspective of a student, rather than a master, of music. 

He also shared some memories of his association with two other great musicians, Paul Motian and Miles Davis. 

For his musical performances, he reached into his past for two solo piano favorites, "Children’s Song #10" and "Armando’s Rhumba," as well as treating us to a song he’d recently performed for the first time at a celebration for Stevie Wonder; Stevie’s composition, "Pastime Paradise."

On the Web:

• Groove Notes: ‘A student kind of mind:’ One on one with Chick Corea at KPLU