Friday, May 3, 2019

A Window Above: Spain

Song: "Spain"
Writer: Chick Corea
Original Release: January 1973
Band: Return to Forever
Album: Light as a Feather



"Spain" is a jazz fusion composition by Chick Corea.  I first learned it in high school jazz band.  The original was nominated for two Grammys.  30 years later, Corea won a Grammy for an arrangement for piano sextet and orchestra.  The piece is a genuine jazz standard.  All of the clips featured below are awesome - genius level musicians at work.  I realize there's over an hour's worth of music attached to this post but I promise, it's all worth it.

Flamenco, from Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin:



Bluegrass, from Bela Fleck & The Flecktones:



Stevie Wonder.  Ever wonder if the guy can still play the harmonica?  Oh my!:



Al Jarreau, lyrics by JoaquĆ­n Rodrigo:




Jake Shimabukuro, ukelele:



Arrangement for Piano Sextet and Orchestra, First Movement:



Second Movement:



Want to hear all of the songs I have featured in a convenient playlist?

Enjoy: A Window Above

What are you listening to these days?

6 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks! It was a lot of fun putting this post together.

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  2. Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful Love listening to this post.

    The first summer right after my divorce (living in Laguna Beach) I bought every CD of Astrud Gilberto Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Sinatra and Jobim. ...
    I played them all summer. It was my summer of The Girl from Ipanema !

    cheers, parsnip

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  3. I love to listening to Stevie wonder, but tough to listening to London Philharmonic orchestra.....all wonderful

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    Replies
    1. Yes, the classical adaptation is weird. I agree. People have been trying to merge jazz and European classical for a century-plus now, with varying levels of success.

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