Chick Corea and the album ‘Now He Sings, Now He Sobs’

It is with sadness that I realize that 23-time Grammy award recipient and Jazz pianist Chick Corea has died. I never had the chance to see him perform in person, yet I wish to offer a commemoration of his 1968 album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs. Listen and appreciate with us as we share links to his album tracks in this loving tribute and recollection of the man and the musician.

(Now He Sings, Now He Sobs is the second album released by Chick Corea, yet it is said in this review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine that the album feels like Corea‘s first).

Steps: What Was serves as the primer and grand introduction to the jazz pianist concept of the playing of Chick Corea with bassist Miroslav Vituous and drummer Roy Haynes. With a runtime approaching fourteen minutes, the dynamic spirit and composition are readily apparent.

(This May 1980 photograph of Chick Corea was taken at the Jazz Festival in Berkeley, California by Ed Perlstein via Getty Images).

Matrix belts out an up-tempo scat timing out at better than six-and-a-half minutes. The individual contributions of each player works here.

(Chick Corea as photographed by Dan Muse via Jazz Times Magazine).

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs at better than seven minutes offers the title track for the Now He Sings, Now He Sobs album. The emphasis of bass in the sobs focus during the second half of the song stands nicely next to the beginning composition.

(Chick Corea in 1992 as photographed by Luciano Viti via Getty Images).

Now He Beats the Drums, Now He Stops at better than ten-and-a-half minutes begins with somberly, with piano notably in solo. The introduction of drums and bass roughly four-and-a-half minutes in note an interesting turn into accompaniment, with a full-throated turn by roughly five-and-a-half minutes that is appreciated.

(Chick Corea in March 2013 as photographed by Sergione Infuso Corbis via Getty Images).

The Law of Falling and Catching Up completes the Now He Sings, Now He Sobs album. The sense of foreboding and experiment when compared to what had come before with this album almost shocks the senses. At nearly two-and-a-half minutes, the song is more forthright in getting to the jarring resonance that signals the range that is only beginning in what was Chick Corea‘s musical range.

Matt – Saturday, February 13, 2021