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Flushing Town Hall responds to Chick Corea's death

Ellen Kodadek, Executive & Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall, has issued the following statement in response to the death of Chick Corea:

"Flushing Town Hall expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of NEA Jazz Master Chick Corea and to the jazz community at large. He was a cherished contributor to the rich, jazz history of our borough of Queens, alongside Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Heath, John Coltrane, and many other jazz legends.

Chick Corea lived in Cambria Heights, Queens many years ago at 114-73 227th Street, and he can be found on The Queens Jazz Trail Map, which was created as a part of Flushing Town Hall's Queens Jazz Trail Tour.

Corea's technical facility on the piano was unparalleled and astonishing. He played together with other greats like Cab Calloway, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Blue Mitchell, Herbie Mann, and Stan Getz, and he recorded with Donald Byrd and Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1967 he accompanied Sarah Vaughan with Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Hanes and in 1968 replaced pianist Herbie Hancock to play in The Miles Davis Band with bassist Ron Carter, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and drummer Tony Williams — one of the best jazz ensembles of all time. He can be heard on Miles Davis' iconic album "Bitches Brew."

He also formed Return To Forever and The Elektric Band, two groups that were on the cutting edge of the jazz fusion era that performed some intricate and memorable music. His composition "Spain" has been recorded by countless jazz artists the world over, and his many other compositions will forever be a treasured part of the Jazz Songbook.

He was one of jazz's great pioneers, helping to establish the synthesizer in fusion jazz. He received the NEA's Jazz Master endowment in 2006 and won 23 Grammy Awards over the course of his career.

The musical life of Chick Corea has touched millions of music lovers worldwide, and his genius inspired the best of the best in jazz. He will be greatly missed."

About Flushing Town Hall
Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City, in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts. As a member of New York City's Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), we serve to restore, manage and program the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. FTH celebrates the history of Queens as the home of Jazz, by presenting the finest in Jazz performance. We are committed to arts education and hands-on learning, for the arts-curious, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. We serve one of the most diverse communities in the world and strive to uphold the legacy of inclusiveness that has defined our community since the Flushing Remonstrance of 1657.

Land Acknowledgement:
Flushing Town Hall acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the Matinecock People, one of the original tribes of New York, and the first people of Flushing, Queens. The Matinecock continue to live and work on this land to this day. Flushing Town Hall honors their elders who have stewarded this land throughout generations.

COVID-19:
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while our venue remains temporarily closed in accordance with social distancing guidelines, we are proudly presenting performances, exhibitions, panel discussions, and educational activities online through our virtual initiatives, FTH at Home! and Global Arts for Global Kids.



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