Jazz Legend Chick Corea Dies aged 79

A few moments ago, American Jazz music legend Chick Corea passed away at the age of 79 after a fierce battle with cancer.

During his five-decade career, Corea managed in widening the scope of Jazz music and introduce various musical patterns to Jazz. He won 23 Grammy Awards through his active years.

His family expressed in a statement issued after the keyboardist's death: "Throughout his life and career, Chick relished in the freedom and the fun to be had in creating something new, and in playing the games that artists do,” adding, “Through his body of work and the decades he spent touring the world, he touched and inspired the lives of millions.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Linho7vqM

Artist and songwriter John Mayer highlighted, "Chick Corea was the single greatest improvisational musician I have ever played with," continuing, "Nobody was more open, more finely tuned to the moment, changing his approach with every new offering by the musicians around him. If you hit a wrong note, he’d immediately pick it up and play it as a motif so as to say ‘all of this has value, whether you see it or not.’ What an immeasurable loss in so many ways."

https://vimeo.com/93499384

Before his death, Corea left a message to his fans saying, " want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright, It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It’s not only that the world needs more artists, it’s also just a lot of fun."

https://www.facebook.com/chickcorea/posts/10158422599898924

He continued, “And to my amazing musician friends who have been like family to me as long as I’ve known you: It has been a blessing and an honor learning from and playing with all of you. My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could, and to have done so with all the artists that I admire so dearly — this has been the richness of my life.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwTnRcEPg1A