Chick Corea
Juan Carmona Septet

Chick Corea is exploring the most Latino and Hispanic corners of his inspiration in Vienne. Let's remember the Sicilian and Spanish origins of the American pianist born in Massachusetts 77 years ago. The artist's Spanish Heart Band, whose name alone sparks the imagination, is once again on a quest for duende, when the flamenco artist or torero transcends the limits of their art and puts their creativity into overdrive to achieve a heightened state. This brand new group of eight Latin jazz and modern flamenco geniuses means that, in a way, Chick Corea can delve deeper into his love for Paco de Lucia's music. There are two of Paco's former colleagues, the guitarist Niño Josele and flute player Jorge Pardo who played with Corea in 1990 on the album Zyryab by the genius Algésiras. The collaboration echoed Chick Corea's Touchstone (1982) album featuring Lucia. You can finally hear this other Latin fusion forged 43 years ago on My Spanish Heart with Jean-Luc Ponty among others. The sight of Niño de los Reyes, a rising star in contemporary flamenco, stamping his Andalusian feet to the beat of the octopus-like Marcus Gilmore's drums and Cuban bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, paints a picture worthy of Vélasquez.

Line-up : Chick Corea (p), Jorge Pardo (s, f), Michael Rodriguez (t), Steve Davis (t), Niño Josele (g), Carlitos Del Puerto (b), Marcus Gilmore (dms), Nino de los Reyes (danceur),Luisito Quintero (perc)

Crédit photo: © DR

Juan Carmona is one of a kind in modern flamenco. A French gypsy of Andalusian origin, born in Lyon (in 1963), loyal to the Aubagne region where he plays out his passion (and where he runs the Nuits Flamencas festival), the guitarist has won countless prizes and awards and is renowned in Spain and around the world. Carmona spent ten years living in Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia to gain in-depth knowledge of the flamenco culture. Whilst there he performed with singers such as Agujetas and Duquende and recorded with Chano Domínguez, the Cadix pianist, among others. The Frenchman's rich array of sounds, ingenious compositions, pure instrumentals and, most importantly, his talent for improvisation in this harmonic jazz-heavy piece, makes him one of the most respected guitarists in the last 30 years. Alchemya (2013) is still a flamboyant self-portrait of a record blending flamenco with jazz fusion. With his 35 guest cadors, Juan Carmona also gives us a great lesson in the art of hospitality. The borderless musician returned from an Asian tour with Perla de Oriente in 2016 with an album recorded live in the studio. A new travel journal in which the gypsy wanders the duende paths alongside El Piculabe's​ raspy melismas.

Line-up : Juan Carmona (g, compos), Piculabe (v), Noemie Humanes (v), danseur invité, Paco Carmona (g), Domingo Patricio (f), Kike Terron (perc), El Bachi (b)

Crédit photo: © Molina Visuals